(Bloomberg) -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed concern about political upheaval in South Korea undermining progress in bilateral relations.
“Political stability in South Korea is crucial for advancing Japan-South Korea relations,” Kishida said in an interview with Bloomberg on Thursday after a stunning move by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to impose and later revoke martial law.
Kishida, who left office in September, formed a warm relationship with Yoon over frequent meetings, sometimes in casual settings over drinks. Ties between the nations became as close as they have been in recent decades, leading to a range of cooperation, including the creation of a system to directly share real-time information about North Korean missile launches.
Three-way coordination with the US also progressed and President Joe Biden hosted a summit meeting for the countries at Camp David in August last year. Under new Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, another three-way summit was held in November this year on the sidelines of an APEC summit meeting in Peru.
Rahm Emanuel, US ambassador to Japan, said that more than 70 high-level meetings and military exercises between the nations since the Camp David summit showed how cooperation was now “embedded in the DNA of each nation’s security strategy.”
Before the political crisis sparked by Yoon’s shock move this week, he had already faced criticism domestically for sidelining Koreans who continue to seek apologies and reparations from Japan for its colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Japan says all claims were settled in a 1965 treaty that normalized relations between the countries.
South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, a favorite to replace Yoon if the president is forced out, on Thursday described Japan as having a “predatory relationship” with South Korea.
Kishida declined to discuss internal South Korean politics but said cooperation was needed to deal with global challenges such as conflicts, disease and climate change.
“As the country closest to us I think we need to make efforts to support the relationship,” he said.
Touching on the US, Kishida also said that Japan’s status as the largest foreign direct investor should help Tokyo gain an understanding from the Trump administration of its contribution to the economy.
Asked if he was considering taking a role in handling relations with the US, Kishida said: “I will do my utmost as a member of parliament.”
More remarks from the interview:
On Nippon Steel’s bid to buy US Steel:
- “I strongly hope for a decision that won’t have a negative impact on the future shape” of the Japan-US economic partnership.
On a war resolution that includes Russia keeping some Ukrainian territory:
- “If Russia benefits in any way as a result of its invasion of Ukraine, it would send the wrong message to countries in East Asia and elsewhere that are considering invading their neighbors.”
On the government’s drive to shift private savings into investments:
- “Financial institutions should continue their efforts to increase households’ assets by strengthening their investment offerings and asset management capabilities.”
--With assistance from Yui Hasebe.
(Adds more remarks from Kishida, comment from US Ambassador Emanuel)
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