In regard to the wartime requisitioned workers issue that has triggered a deterioration in the Tokyo-Seoul bilateral relationship, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said, "Japan urges that it is South Korea's responsibility to as soon as possible correct the state of international law being violated."
Assets of Japanese companies seized based on the rulings of lawsuits in South Korea are expected to be converted into cash as early as at the end of this year. Motegi said Tuesday during an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun, "If the assets are actually converted into cash, relations between Japan and South Korea will fall into a more serious state."
As for South Korea's decision to extend its General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan -- in a reversal of its earlier decision not to renew it -- Motegi said, "We need positive discussions to assure a system to share intelligence."
As for a Japan-South Korea summit meeting planned in line with a trilateral summit meeting between Japan, China and South Korea to be held in China in December, Motegi said: "We have crucial issues to be discussed between Japan and South Korea. It is only natural to arrange discussions and the conditions for such discussions are almost ready."
Motegi, who was previously involved in trade talks with the United States, said ahead of his meeting next month with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for talks on concluding a peace treaty, "It may be a tougher negotiation than the Japan-U.S. trade negotiations, but I would like to spend a good amount of time in discussions."
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