Seoul, Aug 20 (NationPress) South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok emphasized on Wednesday that relations with Japan are extremely significant, presenting numerous chances for collaborative efforts.

His statements came during a meeting with a group of Japanese representatives visiting Seoul for the Korea-Japan Forum, coinciding with President Lee Jae Myung planning a trip to Tokyo later this week for discussions with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

“With the beginning of the new administration, South Korea and Japan are progressing towards a future-focused trajectory,” Kim remarked. “The two nations share a crucial relationship with various avenues for cooperation, and the president’s decision to visit Japan was made in that context.”

The Japanese representatives conveyed Tokyo’s commitment to fostering “a more mature, resilient, and future-oriented” bilateral relationship.

The delegation included former Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Yasumasa Nagamine, acting chair of the forum, alongside other Japanese lawmakers.

The Korea-Japan Forum is an annual event initiated in 1993 aimed at enhancing high-level discussions between the two nations.

Lee was scheduled to depart for Tokyo for a summit with Ishiba, followed by a visit to Washington for his inaugural summit with US President Donald Trump on August 25.

Earlier, on August 15, President Lee Jae Myung remarked that he would strive for “forward-looking, mutually beneficial cooperation” with Japan through active “shuttle diplomacy,” expressing hope that Japan would confront its historical wartime actions.

Lee made these comments during his address commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula’s liberation from Japan’s colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, in light of his upcoming summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba later this month, just before a planned meeting with US President Donald Trump, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

“Guided by a principle of pragmatic, national interest-focused diplomacy, we will pursue forward-looking, mutually beneficial cooperation with Japan through regular meetings and open dialogues via shuttle diplomacy,” Lee stated.

Commemorating the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations, Lee emphasized the need for Seoul and Tokyo to acknowledge their troubled history and redefine their bilateral relations, describing Japan as “a neighbor across the sea” and “an essential partner” in economic growth.

“I hope that the Japanese government will sincerely confront our painful history and work diligently to uphold trust between our two countries,” he concluded.