Shii holds talks with Uri Party Chair

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Shii holds talks with Uri Party Chair

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on September 7 held talks with Kim Geun Tae, Uri Party chair, at the South Korean National Assembly.

Welcoming the JCP delegation led by Shii, Kim said, "My heart is filled with deep emotion, receiving you at the National Assembly. If this meeting had taken place before 1987, the year when the president of the Republic for the first time was elected by popular vote, we would have faced a court trial for violating the National Security Law."

Referring to the issue of North Korea's missile program, Kim said, "We know that Japan is concerned about this problem. However, the talk about a possible preemptive attack (on North Korea) will make the matter more difficult to deal with."

"The Uri Party takes an active stand for the defense of peace on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia based on U.N. resolutions. I'm very anxious about the recent developments in Japan," he added.

Concerning Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, Kim emphasized, "Trying to justify Japan's past war of aggression and colonial rule is dangerous not only for Japan but for all of East Asia."

"In expressing concern about it, not just because we are victims of the war of aggression but because there will be no bright future for Japan and East Asia if we fail to have an accurate understanding of history, we hope that the Japanese Communist Party will play its part in this regard," he said.

Shii responded to Kim by stating, "How moving it is for us to get our long-standing wish to visit the ROK and to get a warm welcome like this!"

He said that it is understandable for Kim to have concerns about recent moves in Japan and explained the history of the JCP, including the struggle it waged since its founding against Japan's war of aggression and colonial rule.

"At present, we're fighting in Japan to stop the moves to go against the lessons of history, including the issues of Yasukuni Shrine and the history textbook. The JCP will make every effort to resolve the historical problems as it is part of the JCP's raison d'etre."

During the meeting, the Uri Party side explained their wishes concerning the Japan-ROK Free Trade Agreement. Shii stated his view that the need is to find a solution that will benefit both the Japanese and South Korean peoples. He said that any difficult questions pending between the two countries can be dealt with calmly through negotiations if they share a common understanding of historical issues.

Shii said that there are three important frameworks for working to establish an East Asian community of nations for peace. They are a success of the Six-Party Talks on North Korea's nuclear program; a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula based on the South-North Joint Declaration; and a comprehensive settlement based on the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration of the abduction of Japanese nationals, North Korea's nuclear development, and a settlement of the accounts of Japan's past colonial rule of Korea.

Kim said, "I completely agree with you. It seems that we share views even though there has been no discussion between us."

Kim proposed promoting exchanges between local assembly members and municipal heads of both parties. Shii expressed positive support for the proposal.
- Akahata, September 8, 2006