SEOUL (Jiji Press)—South Korean President Park Geun-hye is considering holding talks with visiting Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe on Friday morning, a presidential spokesman said Thursday.
If realized, the talks would mark the first time Park has held a one-on-one meeting with a high-ranking Japanese politician since her meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso soon after her inauguration in February last year.
Park held a trilateral summit with U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Netherlands in March this year.
The Japanese and South Korean leaders have yet to hold a bilateral meeting since they took office, as relations between the two sides have deteriorated due to history and territorial issues. Abe assumed the post of prime minister in December 2012.
The focal point now is whether the envisaged meeting between Park and Masuzoe will work as a catalyst to improve the strained ties, analysts say.
The Masuzoe side asked Park to hold the meeting. Masuzoe plans to convey Abe’s message to Park that the Japanese government hopes to mend fences with South Korea.
The soured bilateral relations have led to adverse developments, including a plunge in the number of Japanese tourists to South Korea. Attention will be paid to what Park says about the bilateral relationship during her possible meeting with Masuzoe.
Masuzoe may meet with S. Korea’s Park - The Japan News
