ID :
37972
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 13:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37972
The shortlink copeid
S Korea-Japan strategic dialogue
SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- Vice foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan met on Monday for talks over the North Korean nuclear issue and the upcoming summit between their leaders, officials said.
The neighboring nations launched the strategic dialogue in 2005 to promote
bilateral cooperation. The latest round, the seventh of its kind, came ahead of a
summit expected to take place Jan. 10-12 between South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso.
"I expect this round of the strategic talks will help lay the groundwork for our
relations to move forward to a mature companionship," South Korean Vice Foreign
Minister Kwon Jong-rak told his counterpart Mitoji Yabunaka before starting their
talks.
Yabunaka responded by saying, "I expect we will exchange our views in a heart to
heart way about East Asia and international economic issues."
Officials said the ministers had in-depth discussions on the North Korean
denuclearization talks, which ended without progress earlier this month. They
also discussed measures to follow up on a previous summit between the nation's
leaders' in Fukuoka on Dec. 13 and preparations for the upcoming meeting in
Seoul.
But their talks did not deal with Japan's controversial claim to the easternmost
South Korean islets of Dokdo, a constant source of tension in relations,
officials said.
South Korea on Sunday strongly protested Japan's stepped-up move to claim Dokdo,
following a report that the Japanese foreign ministry has published its
promotional booklet on the islets in more languages for overseas distribution.
"The strategic talks are to cover long-term cooperation measures, rather than
particular issues," a foreign ministry official said, requesting anonymity. "The
foreign ministry has strongly protested against the claim by the Japanese foreign
ministry, so it was not dealt with seriously in these talks."
Dokdo, a set of rocky outcroppings that lies in the East Sea between the
neighboring nations, is effectively controlled by South Korea, with provincial
police officers dispatched to guard the islets.
hkim@yna.co.kr
The neighboring nations launched the strategic dialogue in 2005 to promote
bilateral cooperation. The latest round, the seventh of its kind, came ahead of a
summit expected to take place Jan. 10-12 between South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso.
"I expect this round of the strategic talks will help lay the groundwork for our
relations to move forward to a mature companionship," South Korean Vice Foreign
Minister Kwon Jong-rak told his counterpart Mitoji Yabunaka before starting their
talks.
Yabunaka responded by saying, "I expect we will exchange our views in a heart to
heart way about East Asia and international economic issues."
Officials said the ministers had in-depth discussions on the North Korean
denuclearization talks, which ended without progress earlier this month. They
also discussed measures to follow up on a previous summit between the nation's
leaders' in Fukuoka on Dec. 13 and preparations for the upcoming meeting in
Seoul.
But their talks did not deal with Japan's controversial claim to the easternmost
South Korean islets of Dokdo, a constant source of tension in relations,
officials said.
South Korea on Sunday strongly protested Japan's stepped-up move to claim Dokdo,
following a report that the Japanese foreign ministry has published its
promotional booklet on the islets in more languages for overseas distribution.
"The strategic talks are to cover long-term cooperation measures, rather than
particular issues," a foreign ministry official said, requesting anonymity. "The
foreign ministry has strongly protested against the claim by the Japanese foreign
ministry, so it was not dealt with seriously in these talks."
Dokdo, a set of rocky outcroppings that lies in the East Sea between the
neighboring nations, is effectively controlled by South Korea, with provincial
police officers dispatched to guard the islets.
hkim@yna.co.kr
