It is known that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is visiting South Korea, expressed "regret for the past" yesterday (7 May) entirely on his own decision.

A senior official in the President's Office said in a press call today, "I think Prime Minister Kishida thought he had to respond to President Yoon Seok-yeol's decision somehow."

Another official said on the call, "Prime Minister Kishida's past remarks were not coordinated in advance, not even whether he would mention them," and emphasized that "President Yun is just doing what he has to do."

Earlier, National Security Chief Cho Tae-yong reportedly met with Japanese National Security Agency Director Takeo Akiba on 3 March, before the ROK-Japan summit talks, and conveyed domestic public opinion on Prime Minister Kishida's desire for "favorable measures."

Prime Minister Kishida responded to President Yun's forced labor solution and reminded some in Korea of the demand for a direct statement of apology and remorse for the past.

However, President Yun reportedly asked Director Akiba not to be too burdened" during his meeting.

This was after Prime Minister Kishida delivered a message to President Yun through Director Akiba, saying, "I highly appreciate President Yun's courageous determination to lead the improvement of relations between South Korea and Japan, and I decided to make this return visit in return."

Since then, it is said that there has been no consultation between the staff of the two countries on the issue of past history.

Before his visit to South Korea, Prime Minister Kishida reportedly told Japanese diplomatic officials about past affairs to the effect that "leave that to me."

In the absence of such specific prior coordination, officials from the President's Office explained that it was unexpected for Prime Minister Kishida to first bring up the issue of past history in his small takeover talks with President Yun.

Prime Minister Kishida said that his position of inheriting the historical awareness of previous cabinets will not be shaken in the future, and that he was impressed by the Korean government's solution to compensate victims of forced labor based on third-party reimbursement, and that he was heartbroken because many people suffered very painful and sad things in the harsh environment at the time.

President Yun responded by saying, "I thank you for showing a sincere position first when South Korea has not talked about it or asked for it," a senior official in the presidential office said at a briefing yesterday.

Some have pointed out that President Yun should have demanded more strongly from Prime Minister Kishida for an apology and remorse.

In this regard, a key official in the President's Office said on the call, "I think Prime Minister Kishida has given a lot of thought," adding, "Even if we are not 3% satisfied right now, we are moving in the direction we want."

(Photo = Yonhap News)