Japan-Republic of Korea Relations
Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting
February 18, 2023
On February 19, for approximately 35 minutes commencing at 3:10 a.m. (Japan time), Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Dr. Park Jin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
- The ministers concurred on the importance for Japan and ROK to cooperate in dealing with various issues of the international community. In particular, the two Ministers strongly condemned North Korea’s ICBM-class ballistic missile launch on February 18 which landed within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), approximately 200km off the coast of Japan, and reaffirmed that they will continue to work closely together between Japan and the ROK and among Japan, the ROK and the U.S. on the enhancement of deterrence in the region including security cooperation among the three countries and responses at the UN Security Council, towards the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
- Furthermore, the ministers exchanged views on overall bilateral relations including the issue of former civilian workers from the Korean Peninsula, in light of the two leaders’ reaffirmation to pursue an early resolution of the bilateral issue of concern at the Japan-ROK Summit Meeting last year in November.
- The ministers concurred on continuing close communication between the two countries at various levels of the diplomatic authorities to pursue an early resolution of the issue of concern with a view to restoring sound Japan-ROK relations.