Nov 05, 2019 (NHK) - NHK has learned that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reiterated Japan's position on the wartime labor issue in a brief dialogue he had with his South Korean counterpart at an ASEAN summit in Thailand.
Abe met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday and reiterated that any rights to compensation claims by those who say they were forced to work for Japanese firms during World War Two was settled in an agreement the countries signed when they normalized ties in 1965.
He also noted the importance of bilateral ties. The two leaders agreed to continue communications through diplomatic channels.
Abe and Moon met behind closed doors for about ten minutes, accompanied only by their interpreters.
At the beginning of their talks, Abe expressed condolences for the passing of Moon's mother last week. He also thanked Moon for South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon's attendance at Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony in Tokyo last month.
Moon thanked Abe for his condolences and expressed congratulations over Emperor Naruhito's accession.
Abe told Moon that Japan's ties with South Korea are important, and that coordination between Tokyo, Seoul and Washington is also crucial in addressing North Korea.
Moon replied that he also believes promoting cooperation between Japan and South Korea is of utmost importance. He said strong relations are needed to address various issues, including North Korea and the global economy.
