Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > June, 2005

Japan-Republic of Korea Summit Meeting Monday, June 20, 2005 JAPANESE Click photographs to enlarge Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting of roughly two hours with Mr. Roh Moo-hyun, the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK), at the Cheong Wa Dae (Office of the President) in Seoul in the afternoon. At this Japan- ROK Summit Meeting, which was the first summit meeting held in half a year following the previous meeting in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture last December, the two leaders discussed about the history issue including issues regarding the perception of history, the history textbook and Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine, as well as the nuclear issue of North Korea among other topics. After the meeting, the two leaders held a joint press conference at which President Roh commented on the issue of the perception of history that, "It is the Japanese side regretting the unfortunate history and acting on its conviction to not repeat such history that will indeed form the basis of a trusting relationship between our two countries." To this, Prime Minister Koizumi responded, "We take seriously the sentiments of the people of the Republic of Korea regarding the past. Despite differences in our opinions, on a broader perspective, I intend to steer our bilateral relations back to its normal track and advance a future-oriented relationship." With regard to his visits to Yasukuni Shrine, Prime Minister Koizumi remarked, "I am definitely not paying my visits to the shrine to glorify or justify the war. I am paying my visits to mourn the war dead, who were sent to the battlefield against their will. I pay my visit with the determination that wars should never be repeated." Furthermore, Prime Minister Koizumi and President Roh agreed for Japan, the United States and the ROK to cooperate for the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks in order to realize a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue of North Korea. In addition, the two leaders agreed to increase the shuttle flights between Haneda and Kimpo airports to eight flights per day. View Video (Available only in Japanese) Real(Narrowband) / Real(Broadband) Windows Media(Narrowband) / Windows Media(Broadband)