Japan PM stresses future-oriented ties with Korea

President Lee Myung-bak shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan before talks in Toronto, Canada, Saturday, on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit. / Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok

By Na Jeong-ju
Korea Times correspondent

TORONTO ― Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan called for a future-oriented partnership with Korea, Saturday (local time), saying he would not hesitate to reflect on Japan's past wrongdoings, if necessary.

At a summit here with President Lee Myung-bak on the sidelines of the Group of 20 Summit, he also reaffirmed his full support for South Korea in pushing for U.N. action against North Korea over the sinking of the Navy vessel Cheonan in March, Cheong Wa Dae said.

It was their first meeting since Kan took office in early June, replacing Yukio Hatoyama.

Kan differs from his predecessor on coping with security and economic challenges, but indicated at the talks that he would take the same path of building friendship with Seoul, while dealing sternly with Pyongyang's military provocation.

"I hope the year 2010 will be a remarkable year for relations between Korea and Japan," Kan was quoted as saying by the presidential office. "I will face up to history to build a brighter future for both countries."

As this year marks the 100th anniversary of Japan's colonization of Korea in 1910, Korea and Japan can begin a new century of friendship this year if they open their minds and seek to cooperate based on mutual trust, the Prime Minister said.

Lee and Kan also agreed to work closely together to revitalize talks on the envisioned Korea-Japan free trade deal.

Expressing his deep condolences to South Korea over the Cheonan incident, Kan said he would fully back South Korea's bid to make North Korea pay the price for the sinking, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

Lee also held bilateral talks with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, praised Korea on its efforts to tackle climate change, saying the country's recent launch of the Global Green Growth Institute in Seoul will be an example for many countries around the world.

He asked Lee to visit New York in September and deliver a keynote address at a summit themed the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals on Korea's plan to help underdeveloped nations.

The government has included the issues of forming a global financial safety net and seeking a more balanced global growth in the agenda for the next Group of 20 Summit, slated for November in Seoul.