Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi to Visit Seoul on October 15th

The Korean and the Japanese government issued a joint announcement yesterday that President Kim Dae-Jung and the Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will hold a summit talk in Seoul on 15th.

Oh Hong-Keun, head of the presidential spokesperson, officially announced that Prime Minister Koizumi will make a one-day visit to Seoul on October 15th to hold a talk with President Kim.

Head of the presidential spokesperson Oh said, ``In relation to the controversial issue of history between the two countries, Prime Minister Koizumi will reconfirm Japan`s position on its past history as expressed in the `Prime Minister Murayama`s 1995 speech` and the `1998 Joint Declaration of Korea-Japan Partnership`.``

Admitting that it had inflicted grave pains to the Korean people through the colonial rule, Japan expressed acute remorse and apologies in the speech announced by the former Prime Minister Murayama on August 15th 1995 and the Joint Declaration of Korea-Japan Partnership issued by the former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and President Kim Dae-Jung on October 8th 1998.

Head of the presidential spokesperson Oh added that ``President Kim plans to exchange opinions on a cooperative plan for the success of 2002 World Cup Game and `the Year of Korea-Japan Exchange`, on the issue of terrorism and the policy on North Korea.``

A government official said that ``the Japanese government has expressed through a letter written by Prime Minister Koizumi that it would like to present its improved position on disputes over history issues. The government may not be completely satisfied with the issues of history. However, considering that the Korea-Japan relationship in other areas should be restored as much as possible, the government decided to accept the Japan`s request for a summit talk.``

However, the government has been negative on holding a summit talk saying that Japan`s reasonable measures on the issues of distortion of history textbooks and the shrine visit should `precede` the summit talk.

Meanwhile, both the Chinese and Japanese government announced yesterday that Prime Minister Koizumi will visit China on 8th to hold a China-Japan summit talk with the Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Kwon Chul-Hyun, spokesperson of the Grand National Party, made a comment yesterday on the Japanese Prime Minister`s visit to South Korea, and said that ``the government should explain why it abruptly changed its position and decide to allow the Prime Minister Koizumi`s visit, ignoring the public sentiment. If situation, which has disappointed people, continues even after Prime Minister Koizumi`s visit, the government should take all the responsibilities.``

Byon Woong-Jeon, spokesperson of the United Liberal Democrats, said in his statement that ``people are wondering how could the person, who enraged our people by distorting history textbooks and visiting shrine where the dead who caused pain to our people for 40 years are buried, can visit us. It is hard to avoid mixed feelings, instead of welcoming feelings.``

Yun Seung-Mo ysmo@donga.com