Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, said in response to a Japanese media report to the effect that Comfort Women and Dokdo issues were discussed during the ROK-Japan summit meeting between President Yun Seok-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida today (1 May), "We cannot disclose all the conversations between the leaders that came and went during the summit talks."

Appearing on YTN's "Newswide" today, Deputy Chief Kim responded to the host's question, "Has (Prime Minister Kishida) asked us to make sure that the Comfort Women agreement is implemented?"

Earlier, the President's Office said in a press release yesterday, "At the ROK-Japan summit held on 18 March, neither Comfort Women nor Dokdo issues were discussed."

Deputy Chief Kim merely pointed out that "one of the parties to the 16 Korea-Japan Comfort Women Agreement was Prime Minister Kishida, who was foreign minister at the time," and that "he read out his heartfelt remorse and apology verbatim, and exactly three years later, our country dissolved the Foundation for Reconciliation and Healing."

Kim explained that 2015.3 billion won remained out of the 100 billion won (10 billion yen) that Japan contributed to the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation, and the remaining money was paid to 56 of the 47 survivors Comfort Women at the time.

He reiterated the government's position that the agreement is still in force today.

When asked if there had been any mention of Dokdo, Kim said, "It can't be a hot issue. It's our land that we currently occupy," he replied, adding, "As far as I can remember, Japanese officials don't remember telling us about this Dokdo."

Commenting on the outcome of the summit, Deputy Chief Kim said, "In the end, the first button was put on."

"The Japanese government has been increasingly open since the inauguration of the Yoon Seok-yeol government in May last year," he said, adding, "This summit is the definitive version that comes out as a result and marks a new beginning."

In response to criticism that Japan did not specifically mention an apology or remorse over Prime Minister Kishida's remark that he would "inherit the historical perception of previous cabinets," he said, "There have been more than 35 official apologies to us by Japan compiled by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

He said, "I think we will see if political and civil society exchanges between South Korea and Japan are broadened and trust is built in the process of implementing (the contents of the talks), and if a more positive environment is created on the Japanese side and in domestic politics."

When asked about Japan's reaction to the government's solution to compensations for forced labor, Kim said, "Actually, Japan was surprised. I don't know if this will be okay in Korean domestic politics, but for us (Japan), this seems to be the solution we were eagerly waiting for."

Regarding the "Future Partnership Fund" set up by the National Federation of Businessmen and Japan's Keidanren, Kim said, "Keidanren's money already includes some money from two defendant companies."

Regarding security cooperation, such as the normalization of the Japan-South Korea Military Information Security Agreement (GSOMIA), he emphasized, "The United States and the ROK should share missile information, such as North Korea's ballistic missile trajectory, altitude, and landing point, and we are working to strengthen cooperation on North Korea's nuclear program and cyber threats."