Japanese Minister Expresses Deep Regrets for Inflicting Pain to South Koreans Until 1945

Japanese Minister Nobutaka Machimura said Wednesday, “I deeply apologize for the pain inflicted upon the South Koreans until 1945. This Japanese attitude was expressed during the meeting with former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and afterwards at the joint declaration between the heads of both nations.”

The delegation stated that Machimura, during his meeting with the “Special National Assembly Commission for safeguarding Dokdo and dealing with Japan’s history distortion” delegation leader Kim Tae-hong, (a lawmaker) who is currently visiting Japan, said, “I will work harder to conduct the summit meeting in a more friendly manner.”

Machimura’s comment seems to reflect the Japanese government’s stance of mending fences with the South Korean government after tensions flared up due to the Dokdo and the history textbook issue.

On the issue of Dokdo, Machimura said, “I understand why the South Koreans relate Dokdo to the colonial rule. However, the two nations could not come to reach any agreement on the issue. I hope the relations between the two nations will not deteriorate any further.”

Also, he said, “Japan makes sure to keep up with the ‘neighboring empire provision,’ taking neighboring countries into consideration during the textbook official approval process. The current textbook has gone through the same process. It is impossible to ask the concerned publishing company to delete its individual accounts of history.”

Won-Jae Park parkwj@donga.com