Foreign minister pushes to visit Japan this year: spokesman
SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed Tuesday that top diplomat Kang Kyung-wha is pushing to visit Japan by the end of year, adding that relevant discussions are under way between the two countries.
"Detailed schedules are being arranged with Japan," Noh Kyu-duk, foreign ministry spokesman, told a regular briefing. "It would take place within this year."
It would mark the first visit by a Korean foreign minister to Japan since July 2015.
South Korea and Japan saw their ties chilled over a controversial deal reached in 2015 to put an end to the long-running feud over Tokyo's wartime sexual slavery of Korean women.
The Moon Jae-in government, which took office in May, has said that the deal reached under its predecessor does not reflect public sentiment and that there appear to be procedural problems.
A task force is currently reviewing how the deal was reached and is to provide its assessment on the matter to the government by the end of this month.
Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, were forced into sexual servitude during World War II. The number of surviving South Korean victims stands at 33.
Earlier, a media report said that Kang's trip could come before the task force's announcement of its monthslong review.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
(Yonhap Interview) Fintech startup AIM aims to bring professional wealth services to ordinary investors
-
N.K. leader declares victory in fight against COVID-19: state media
-
N. Korea appears to release border dam water without prior notice: official
-
7 dead, 6 missing in heaviest rainfall in 80 years
-
(2nd LD) 7 dead, 6 missing in heaviest rainfall in 80 years
-
(Yonhap Interview) Fintech startup AIM aims to bring professional wealth services to ordinary investors
-
7 dead, 6 missing in heaviest rainfall in 80 years
-
(5th LD) 8 dead, 7 missing in record rainfall in Seoul, surrounding areas
-
N. Korea appears to release border dam water without prior notice: official
-
(LEAD) 7 dead, 6 missing in heaviest rainfall in 80 years
-
Heavy rain-caused deaths this week rise to 14; 5 go missing
-
(LEAD) Suspended ruling party chief again cries foul over leadership switch
-
(LEAD) Ex-presidential candidate Lee wins more rounds of voting for new DP leadership
-
(LEAD) N. Korea hits out at U.N. chief over remarks on denuclearization
-
(LEAD) New COVID-19 cases down for 4th day; critical cases at over 3-month high