Japanese media: ”Choi Sang-mok sends friendly message, no criticism on historical issues on March 1st Independence Day”

In response to the speech by Choi Sang-mok, acting vice prime minister and minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance (equivalent to the Ministry of Finance in Japan) in commemoration of the March 1st Independence Movement, Japanese media criticized Japan.
Kyodo News reported on the 1st that Choi Sang-mok delivered the speech on behalf of the suspended President Yoon Seok-yeol.
"He did not criticize Japan over historical issues, as he had done in previous speeches," the report continued. It went on to say that Choi Sang-mok, acting president, will use the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea as an opportunity to heal "the wounds of the past."
The Kyodo News Agency also reported that, as conflicts intensify ahead of the announcement of the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol, Choi Sang-mok has expressed his hope that the relationship between the two countries will be developed to a new level.
The Asahi Shimbun also pointed out that Choi Sang-mok emphasized Japan-Korea cooperation.
The Asahi Shimbun reported, "Acting President Choi Sang-mok asserted that cooperation between Japan and South Korea is absolutely necessary to effectively respond to the severe international situation," and added, "He will continue President Yoon Seok-yeol's policy toward Japan and maintain a friendly relationship with South Korea."
"The Acting President Choi Sang-mok has been consistent in his message," he said. He also said, "The Acting President Choi Sang-mok has been in charge of the People Power Party's emergency response committee chairman Kwon Young-se and the Democratic Party of Korea's chairman Lee Jae-myung.
"I called for national unity at the commemorative ceremony, which was attended by all the representatives of the two Koreas," he said. The Sankei Shimbun noted that Choi Sang-mok did not criticize Japan over historical issues.
The Sankei Shimbun said, "If President Yoon Seok-yeol is removed from office through impeachment and the administration is replaced, the momentum for strengthening ties may be set back.
Japanese media reported that President Yoon Seok-yeol did not mention historical issues in his speeches commemorating the March 1st Independence Movement in 2023 and last year, highlighting the cooperative Japan-Korea relationship for the future.
On the same day, Acting President Choi Sang-mok said about Japan-Korea relations, "This year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and Korea, and we will work together to heal the painful wounds of the past and create a new era for Japan-Korea relations.
"I hope that we can open a new page in this relationship," he said, adding, "In particular, cooperation between Japan and South Korea is absolutely necessary to effectively respond to the current severe international situation."