Japan Reaffirms Commitment To Ties With South Korea Amid Yoon’s Detention

TOKYO, Jan 15 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Japan sees South Korea as an important neighbour and partner, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Wednesday, reaffirming strong bilateral ties despite President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention.

Hayashi, speaking at a regular press conference, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to close communication with South Korea, describing the relationship as vital, Kyodo news agency reported.

"The importance of relations between Japan and South Korea will not change," he said.

Japan is closely monitoring developments in South Korea with "particular and grave" concerns, Hayashi added, following Yoon's abrupt and short-lived imposition of martial law in December, which stunned both South Korea and the world.

Relations between Tokyo and Seoul have markedly improved since Yoon became president in 2022.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who took office last October, expressed hope that the positive momentum in ties could be maintained despite longstanding challenges stemming from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

Both countries, as United States allies, play a crucial role in trilateral cooperation to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile developments.

However, the detention of Yoon has cast uncertainty on South Korea's political stability.

A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said the timing of Yoon’s detention was unfortunate, occurring just before US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House next week.

"The political confusion in South Korea will likely continue for a while," the official remarked.

Another ministry source added, "Whoever takes the top job (in South Korea), the trilateral framework will remain important. We will maintain our communication at the working level."

Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae Yul earlier this week underscored the significance of maintaining bilateral ties despite the uncertainty caused by Yoon's impeachment last month.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic ties between Japan and South Korea.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO