Dong-A Ilbo: “South Korea has proposed to the leaders of East Asia that we all work closely to ensure high levels of quarantine and security during the two upcoming Olympic games in 2021, Tokyo, and in 2022, Beijing,” said South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a virtual meeting of the East Asia Summit (EAS) last Saturday. He referred to each head of state in the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit held following the EAS, in particular greeting Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga by saying, “It is a great pleasure of mine to meet you.” President Moon’s greeting remarks came after the previous meetings where the director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and South Korean lawmakers at the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians’ Union had an in-person meeting with Prime Minister Suga. Such a series of positive moves may enable Seoul and Tokyo to resolve bilateral issues through dialogue.”

Dong-A Ilbo: Director of National Intelligence Service Park Jie-won met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday and proposed a new joint declaration between South Korean and Japanese leaders, following the 1998 declaration by Kim Dae-jung and Keizo Obuchi. While Prime Minister Suga’s specific reactions have not been reported, the Japanese media said he was unwilling, citing the fact that the prime minister asked South Korea to come up with opportunities to restore relations.”