Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed appreciation Monday afternoon ahead of South Korea's announcement on measures to resolve the issue of lawsuits by former wartime requisitioned workers from the Korean Peninsula, saying, "We positively assess it as a means for restoring Japan-South Korea relations to a healthy state."
Kishida, speaking at a Budget Committee meeting of the House of Councillors, added, "South Korea is an important neighboring country that we should work with to address various challenges in the international community.
"We hope to further advance Japan-South Korean relations by communicating closely with [South Korean] President Yoon Suk-yeol."
