Tokyo, 26 July 2021 (TDI): President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, announced that he postponed his trip to Tokyo after a diplomatic remark from the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul and clashes of agenda with Japan. The South Korean president was expected to visit Tokyo to attend the opening ceremony of the Games and hold a bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga.
Soma Hirohisa, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul made an inappropriate comment that influenced public opinion to the cancellation of President Moon’s trip under these circumstances. The disdain of the Japanese officials followed.
Seoul is expecting to tackle building trust with Japan including its export regulations, their General Security of Military Information Agreement, and historical disputes. On the other hand, Japan demanded Seoul to provide a clear stance and specific solution on the Korean Supreme Court’s ruling that Japanese corporations are liable for historical abuses. That said, the two sides could not align their interests to reach their agreements.
This affects both nations to build bilateral relations in a short time. Nevertheless, as South Korea actively communicates to the Japanese government to improve their relationship, the nation wishes Tokyo a safe and successful Games.
The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, officially the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, is an ongoing international multi-sport event held recently from 23 July until 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the event was postponed in March 2020, originally scheduled from 24 July to 9 August 2020. And being the first Olympic Games to be postponed and rescheduled, rather than canceled.
