Lee says scrapping past deals with Japan on wartime issues "undesirable"

President Lee Jae Myung had an interview with a Japanese newspaper ahead of his trip to Tokyo this weekend for talks with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

For more, our Presidential Office Correspondent Yoon Jung-min on the line.

Jung-min, what did the president have to say on Seoul's relationship with Tokyo?

Eun-ji. The South Korean leader said it would be "undesirable" to overturn agreements that were reached with Japan on wartime issues of Korean sex slaves and forced laborers.

In an interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, released Thursday morning, President Lee acknowledged that though the deals finalized under previous conservative governments are difficult to accept, they are commitments made between nations.

At the same time, he noted the feelings of the South Korean people should be taken into account, adding that what could be more important than compensation is offering words of consolation in a sincere manner.

In 2015, the so-called "comfort women" agreement was reached under the Park Geun-hye administration, and in 2023, the third-party compensation scheme for wartime laborers was agreed under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Those agreements sparked some backlash in Korea.

Lee also stressed the importance of the Seoul-Tokyo relationship ahead of his talks with Japan's Ishiba this weekend, hoping to expand cooperation on the economy, society and culture.

He also mentioned regional security. What was his message?

He did mention North Korea's nuclear issues, outlining a three-stage roadmap that involves freezing, reducing and dismantling the North's nuclear and missile programs.

He added that this will be pursued while maintaining a "close coordination" with the U.S. and pursuing "active inter-Korean dialogue."

It's the first time that President Lee unveiled such a solution over North Korea's nuclear issues.

I also have to note that he will be flying straight from Tokyo to Washington this weekend for his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

That's all from me now. Back to you, Eun-ji.