By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak expressed hope Tuesday that Japanese Emperor Akihito will visit Seoul next year on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Japan's annexation of Korea in a bid to move Korea-Japan relations forward.
"Korea and Japan have difficulty in improving relations due to the past," Lee said in a joint interview with Korea's Yonhap News and Japan's Kyodo News at Cheong Wa Dae.
"Akihito's visit to Seoul will have a significant meaning in that the countries can leave the past behind and foster a future-oriented relationship.
"The Emperor has traveled all around the world, but couldn't visit Korea. I'm confident that Korea-Japan relations will improve rapidly if he visits Korea," Lee added.
Seoul-Tokyo ties are often strained by disputes over their shared history that includes the 35-year Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
President Lee said he expects their relationship to see a turnaround for the better with the inauguration of the Yukio Hatoyama government in Japan today.
"The Korea-Japan relationship has steadily developed over the years. I hope it will develop to a higher level at which they completely trust each other," Lee said.
Regarding the North Korean nuclear issue, Lee called for a united action by the international community to sternly deal with the reclusive nation.
"The North is making somewhat reconciliatory gestures these days toward the United States and South Korea to avoid the difficult situation. But it is still not showing any sincerity or signs that it will give up its nuclear ambitions," Lee said.
He warned that Pyongyang's two-track strategy to continue its nuclear development while gaining economic assistance from neighboring countries will continue.
"That is why member countries of the six-party talks must double their efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions through a unified strategy," Lee said.
Lee emphasized closer cooperation between his country and Japan, saying Pyongyang will likely approach Tokyo soon for concessions in the nuclear disarmament talks.
He reiterated his call for a constitutional change to overhaul the government's power structure, and redraw electoral and administrative districts to end regionalism-based politics.
jj@koreatimes.co.kr
