SEOUL -- South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin on Monday announced a plan to resolve the issue of lawsuits regarding former wartime requisitioned workers from the Korean Peninsula, saying that a South Korean foundation will pay compensation in lieu of Japanese companies that were ordered to do so.
The announcement is a significant move toward resolving the issue, the largest thorn in the bilateral relations that have worsened in recent years.
At a press conference at the South Korean Foreign Ministry in Seoul, Park emphasized Japan-South Korea cooperation as being crucial in various fields, especially regarding the economy and security. He added that the long-cool relations should no longer be left unattended and the vicious circle must be ended for his people for the sake of the national interest.
