Japan mulls inviting Yoon to May’s G7 Hiroshima summit

The government is considering inviting South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to the Group of Seven summit meeting in Hiroshima a er observing Seoul’s response to an issue related to former wartime requisitioned workers, according to government sources.

e leaders of Australia and India are also likely to be invited to the G7 summit meeting to be held from May 19-21.

Japan plans to forge unity with like-minded countries that share values with G7 nations toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Paci c, the sources said.

ere have been growing calls to tackle such issues as China’s increasingly hegemonic activities, North Korea’s continued development of nuclear weapons and missiles, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Under such circumstances, cooperation between Japan and South Korea, and among Japan, South Korea and the United

States has become increasingly important as the nations share values such as democracy and the rule of law.

It is believed that South Korea hopes to participate in the summit.

If South Korea does participate, the meeting would be a good opportunity to demonstrate both domestically and internationally the strengthening of cooperation.

Diplomatic talks are ongoing to resolve the biggest outstanding issue between Japan and South Korea — lawsuits involving former requisitioned workers.

e Japanese government has maintained its stance that a South Korean Supreme Court ruling that nalized an order for Japanese companies to pay compensation is unacceptable, and has urged Seoul to resolve the issue.

Japan is poised to make a nal decision on the invitation a er observing how South Korea deals with the issue.

e Yoon administration inaugurated in May last year has changed course from that of the previous administration under Moon Jae-in, which paid excessive consideration to China and North Korea. The Yoon administration has been promoting improved relations with Japan and security cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States.

Regarding the possibility of invitations for Canberra and New Delhi, which are part of the Quad framework with Tokyo and Washington, Australia is a country with which Japan is deepening security cooperation and India is this year’s chair of the Group of 20 major economies. (Jan. 8)