President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a ceremony celebrating the 77th anniversary of Korea's Liberation Day from Japan's colonial rule, on the lawn of the presidential office in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

In Liberation Day speech, president proposes economic assistance to North Korea in return for denuclearization

By Jung Min-ho

President Yoon Suk-yeol vowed to improve relations with Japan, calling the country a partner that South Korea should work with to defend important shared values, in a speech on Monday marking the 77th anniversary of liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

Yoon reiterated that he aims to inherit the spirit of the 1998 joint declaration between former President Kim Dae-jung ― a revered figure among liberal voters ― and former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, underscoring the shift of perception toward Japan from an old enemy to a new friend.

"In the past, we had to unshackle ourselves from the political control imposed upon us by imperial Japan so that we could regain and defend our freedom. Today, Japan is our partner as we face common threats that challenge the freedom of global citizens," Yoon said during Monday's Liberation Day speech on the lawn of the presidential office.

"When [South] Korea-Japan relations move toward a common future and when the mission of our times align, based on our shared universal values, it will also help us solve the historical problems that exist between our two countries."

President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee pay a silent tribute during a ceremony to mark the 77th anniversary of Korea's Liberation Day from Japan's colonial rule, on the lawn of the presidential office in Seoul, Monday. AP-Yonhap

Freedom and human rights were among the shared values he mentioned, adding that South Korea and Japan, along with many others, should cooperate to achieve peace and prosperity in the world.

"The governments and peoples of both countries, based on mutual respect, must contribute to the peace and prosperity of the international community through extensive cooperation in various areas, ranging from economic and security cooperation to social and cultural exchanges," he said.

[FULL TEXT] Address by President Yoon Suk-yeol on Korea's 77th Liberation Day