S. Korea, Japan to resume young diplomat exchange program

SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Japan will resume their long-suspended program to exchange young diplomats in a bid to build up friendlier relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said Friday.

The exchange program between the neighbors' foreign ministries were initially launched after a summit meeting in October 1998. It was pursued for four-years before being suspended with the last exchange taking place in 2001.

The countries agreed to revive the program in 2012, the ministry said in a brief release.

The ministry said to get the program restarted, it will dispatch a diplomat to Japan's foreign ministry for a 12-day period starting on July 25. One Japanese foreign ministry employee will also join the South Korean foreign ministry, it said.

"The latest exchange program may help improve mutual understanding and trust between the two countries' diplomats ... and contribute to the development of a friendly, cooperative relationship between South Korea and Japan," the release said.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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