Prime Minister Kim Minsuk expressed his condolences on June 11 following the passing of former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Kono Yohei, wishing for the healthy development of Korea-Japan relations.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Kim stated, "Former Speaker Kono Yohei has passed away." He described Kono as a rare Japanese politician who acknowledged the coercion involved in the mobilization of comfort women and offered an apology, presenting the principle of "acknowledging history and moving toward the future." He also noted Kono's close relationship with his political mentor, former President Kim Dae-jung.
Kim added, "His son, former Foreign Minister Kono Taro, is a long-time friend of mine," recalling their two-decade friendship characterized by open discussions despite political differences, saying, "We have talked about our true feelings regarding the difficult issues between Korea and Japan."
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of Korea-Japan relations, stating, "President Lee Jae-myung has broadened the horizons of Korea-Japan diplomacy, and business leaders like Choi Tae-won stress the necessity of economic cooperation between our two countries. The Korea-Japan relationship is more important than we think and must develop beyond the current state."
Kang Chang-il, the former South Korean ambassador to Japan and current Vice Chairman of the Democratic Peace and Unification Advisory Council, reflected on Kono's legacy in a message to the press, stating, "He valued the peace of Northeast Asia and maintained a cautious stance on the revision of Japan's pacifist constitution, which explicitly renounces war, while promoting friendship between Korea and Japan throughout his life."
Kang praised Kono's courageous decision in 1993 when he served as Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, acknowledging the forced mobilization of comfort women and the military's involvement in the Kono Statement, calling it a significant step toward improving bilateral relations and establishing a forward-looking Korea-Japan relationship.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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