Japan and Korea NCC Issue Statement on Export Regulation for Korean Trade

Japan and Korea's NCC councils released a statement regarding Japan's export regulation on Korean trade.

It includes a statement which was presented by the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) and four more Korean christian organizations and the response of the National Christian Council in Japan (NCCJ) on the Korean organization's position. The statement was presented by the Japan and Korea NCC joint council at the Korean Press Center, Seoul, Korea on July 17, 2019. It was published on the official NCCJ website in Japanese and Korean.

The statement, "Korean Christians' Position on Japan's Export Regulation," was presented by the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), the Institute of Korean Christianity for Social Issues Studies, YMCA Korea National Union, and YMCA Korea Alliances. The statement cites comments from Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that export regulation is economic retaliation regarding compensation.

The issue of compensation became the focus of an agreement between Korea and Japan in 1965. It was said that the claim reached by the agreement was meant to be an "outstanding amount, recompense and other claims for Koreans," and asserted that the agreement did not mean "to give up compensation for illegal acts."

It stated that "apology and compensation for illegal domination is rightful action according to a Victim-Centered Approach in international human rights," and that "the export regulation cannot be just and positive for the relationship for both countries, so this shall be repealed."

NCCJ expressed their "solidarity" as a response to the statement, "Korean Christians' Position on Japan's Exporting Regulation." NCCJ urged the withdrawal the export regulation and said, "the trust between the two nations is about to be shaken greatly, and we pray for rapprochement and consideration for each other."

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