ニュース 2008/12/11 DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama Holds Talks with a Delegation Led by Lee Sang-Deuk, South Korea-Japan Parliamentarian’s Union Chair On the evening of December 11, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama held talks with a South Korean delegation led by Lee Sang-Deuk, Chairman of the South Korea-Japan Parliamentarian’s Union and elder brother of South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, at the DPJ headquarters. With Tetsundo Iwakuni, Director-General of the DPJ’s International Department, presiding, Hatoyama welcomed the delegation and stated that "the Democratic Party of Japan attached great importance to relations between South Korea and Japan." He recalled that Lee Sang-Deuk’s last visit to the DPJ had taken place in January, during the transition period of then President-Elect Lee Myung-Bak, to hold talks with DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa. Hatoyama then went on to praise the South Korean President’s efforts during a period of economic difficulties. Commenting on a recent request by the South Korean President’s Office for cooperation regarding a currency swap, Hatoyama said, "a swap is an obvious move in which we wish to cooperate, whether as the Democratic Party of Japan or as the Japanese government." Speaking about the party’s current situation, Hatoyama explained, "The Japanese people are distancing themselves from the administration of Prime Minister Taro Aso, whose approval ratings are floundering." He added that the DPJ was "focusing its strength on winning the Lower House election, which is bound to be held next year, in order to secure a change of administration." Hatoyama assured the delegation, "once the DPJ becomes Japan’s ruling party, relations between South Korea and Japan will further improve," and said that the party intended to develop forward-looking ties without ignoring the problems of the past. Hatoyama also explained that the DPJ would address issues including the return of the remains of South Korean citizens who died in Japan after being forcefully relocated [during Japan’s colonial period]. Recognizing that different kinds of issues have yet to be taken up, he expressed DPJ’s resolve to come to terms with history with absolute sincerity. Lee Sang-Deuk recalled his previous visit as special envoy of his younger brother, President-Elect Lee Myung-Bak, and explained that this time he had come to express his country’s wish to cooperate closely with Japan. He then stated that he shared with Hatoyama a common understanding of cooperative relations between South Korea and Japan, and that the South Korean president’s philosophy and principle in that regard was that "one should not disturb the future of cooperative relations by being fixated on the past." Lee said that, having paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Taro Aso, he was very grateful for the opportunity to meet with DPJ executives who lead Japanese politics, and that he greatly appreciated their strong interest in economic cooperation. Commenting on the array of North Korean issues, he added that South Korea was prepared to cooperate with Japan as it does with the United States in order to find a solution. Finally, Lee expressed once again his gratitude for DPJ President Ozawa’s comments; to "consider" and "promote" the attribution of local election voting rights for Special Permanent Residents of Korean origin. Asked whether he had confidence about the next Lower House election, in which the media predicts a large DPJ victory, Secretary General Hatoyama replied: "Not only am I confident, but the Democratic Party of Japan considers as its duty to achieve a change of government at a time when public distrust of the administration in place is so prevalent." After asking for South Korea’s cooperation, Hatoyama recognized that gaining the status of ruling party would not be easy and reiterated his intention to succeed.