South Korea is unlikely to backtrack on wartime laborer decision

Ties with Japan would suffer but South Korea has the most to lose

20230406 South Korean President Yoon in Tokyo

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a joint news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on March 16. (Pool photo via Reuters) © Reuters

HIROSHI MINEGISHI, Nikkei senior staff writer

TOKYO -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has again made surprising remarks about his commitment to improving his country's deeply strained ties with Japan.

In a cabinet meeting on March 21, Yoon delivered a 20-minute speech, reading out a lengthy, passionate statement about the importance of better bilateral relations in an apparent move to counter the anti-Japan force's offensive against his diplomatic initiative. Yoon went so far as to say Japan has already expressed apologies and remorse dozens of times over historical issues with South Korea.

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