Suga Calls On Seoul To Drop Compensation Demands For Forced Labor Victims

Reporter Ron Chang ㅣ 2020-10-26 17:43

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga delivers his policy speech during an extraordinary parliament session at the Upper House in Tokyo, Japan, on Oct. 26, 2020.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga says South Korea should drop its demands for compensation for victims of his country's wartime forced labor to restore "healthy" bilateral relations.

Suga made the remark Monday, during his first policy speech to the Diet since taking office last month.

He called South Korea "an extremely important neighbor," however, ties between Seoul and Tokyo have been strained for months amid long-running disputes over historical issues as well as trade.

Suga spoke on North Korea and said he is willing to meet with leader Kim Jong-un, without preconditions, to normalize diplomacy with Pyongyang.

The prime minister also said he will place priority in resolving the long-standing issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by the regime in the 1970s and 80s.