Empathy for colonial-era victims key to closer Japan ties: S. Korea's Lee

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged empathy for victims of Japan's colonial era to foster stronger bilateral relations during a ceremony marking 81 years since Japan's rule ended. In his speech, Lee emphasized the importance of mutual empathy and recognizing each other's pain in building trust between the two nations. He highlighted the progress made over the past year through reciprocal visits, expanded cooperation, and joint efforts in supply chains, energy, and advanced industries.

Lee cited the 1998 joint declaration between former South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, stressing the need to face the past courageously and sincerely to forge a better future. He expressed optimism that the two countries could enjoy another 60 years of peace and prosperity as ever closer neighbors.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi performed a ritual offering at the Yasukuni shrine, honoring war criminals along with war dead. Both South Korea and Japan, key U.S. allies in Asia, face shared challenges such as China's growing military power and North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Lee pledged to pursue pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests, aiming to broaden cooperation in pursuit of shared goals and resolve common challenges.

He also proposed discussions among directly concerned parties to end the Korean War's technical state of war and transform the armistice into a regime of peace, which could help halt North Korea's nuclear advancements.