Kim Min-seok meets with Japanese Ambassador, "We must not forget the past, but create the future."

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Mizushima on the 15th and said, "The essence of the relationship between our two countries is not to forget the past, but to focus on the present and create the future."

Representative Kim met with Ambassador Mizushima at the National Assembly that day and emphasized this, saying, "I told former Foreign Minister Taro Kono, 'We will respect diplomatic continuity along with historical principles,' and I still think that way then and now."

He then mentioned the restoration of shuttle diplomacy between the two countries and the number of tourists between Korea and Japan, which reached an all-time high, and added, "We are realizing the desirable image agreed upon and dreamed of in the 1998 Kim Dae-jung and Obuchi Declaration."

At the same time, he asked Ambassador Mizushima, "I hope that he will continue to play a role (in the development of Korea-Japan relations) in the future," and "I hope that Korea and Japan will form a richer relationship in all aspects, including politics, economy, and culture."

In response, Ambassador Mizushima responded, "I am very pleased that understanding and exchanges between the peoples of the two countries are becoming stronger," and added, "This is making the current Korea-Japan relationship strong."

He also said, "Korea is an important neighboring country that shares common values ​​such as democracy, market economy, and the rule of law," and promised, "We will continue to work to further deepen future-oriented and stable Korea-Japan relations."