S. Korean unification minister discusses bilateral ties with senior Japanese officials

SEOUL, April 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho met with senior Japanese officials in Tokyo on Thursday and stressed the importance of bolstering bilateral cooperation, according to a foreign media report.

Kim is in Japan for a three-day visit through Friday, which aims at enhancing two-way cooperation on inter-Korean unification issues and the North Korea policy under Japan's Shigeru Ishiba administration, his office said.

During his meeting with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Kim exchanged views on the security situation in North Korea and reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo, as well as trilateral coordination involving the United States, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

Kim also reiterated the South Korean government's support for the immediate resolution of the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, it added.

Kim held separate talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, during which he called for maintaining close bilateral ties and building a future-oriented cooperative relationship to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and around the world.

Iwaya emphasized that relations between the two neighboring countries are crucial in today's strategic environment, according to the report.

graceoh@yna.co.kr
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