South Korea declares plan to resolve wartime labor dispute with Japan

South Korea on Monday unveiled a plan to resolve a long-running wartime labor dispute with Japan – a transfer hailed by Tokyo – bringing the 2 neighbors nearer to a serious enchancment in relations marred by years of distrust and a turbulent previous.

South Korean Overseas Minister Park Jin introduced the plan at a press convention, saying that the funds for compensation for wartime employees beneath the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945 can be raised by means of “voluntary” personal sector donations and paid to an present South Korean basis. . from Japanese corporations.

“The federal government hopes to work with Japan, our closest neighbor, who shares the common values ​​of liberal democracies, market economies, rule of regulation and human rights amid the more and more harmful state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula and amid the present grave worldwide state of affairs,” Park stated in ready remarks.