November 5, 2019
The two countries have been embroiled in an economic dispute.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a dialogue for about 10 minutes at the venue of a summit meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Bangkok, the Japanese government announced Monday.
According to the announcement, the two leaders contacted each other in a waiting room for state leaders at the venue ahead of the summit meeting of ASEAN plus three — Japan, China and South Korea.
During the dialogue, Abe related to Moon “Japan’s principle stance about the bilateral relationship” of their countries.
It seems that Abe reiterated to Moon an explanation that the issue of rights to demand compensation by former requisitioned workers during World War II was already resolved by the 1965 Japan-South Korea agreement over the right to claim and economic cooperation.
It is also likely that Abe asked Moon to take proper responses about the issue.
Abe also expressed his sympathy over the death of Moon’s mother, and his gratitude to Moon’s dispatch of South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon to attend the Sokuirei-Seiden-no-Gi enthronement proclamation ceremony in October.
Moon expressed his gratitude for Abe’s words of sympathy and congratulations to the Emperor’s enthronement.
On Sunday evening before an ASEAN-related dinner meeting, Abe and Moon shook hands smiling when group photos of state leaders were taken.