Published : Aug. 10, 2015 - 18:19
The South Korean presidential office said Monday it was considering China’s invitation sent to President Park Geun-hye to attend celebrations to mark the end of World War II early next month.
“We are carefully reviewing whether the president will attend (the event) or not,” said presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook.
He denied a report by Japan’s Kyodo News that the U.S. has requested Park skip the ceremony.
The Japanese news outlet reported that the U.S. government has told Park, through diplomatic channels, that her attendance at the Beijing event would send a false message to the world that China has caused a rift in the U.S.-South Korea alliance. The U.S. expressed concerns through its embassy in Seoul and other channels, the report added.
“It is a false report that the U.S. had asked South Korea not to attend the event through diplomatic channels,” said Min.
“We have also seen reports of the U.S. clarifying that it was not true.”
President Park Geun-hye speaks at a meeting with her senior secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. (Yonhap)
The White House on Monday denied the news reports, saying they did not request Park to skip the ceremony in China.
On Sept. 3, Beijing plans to hold the 70th anniversary of the “Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-Fascist War Victory Commemoration Day,” widely seen as Beijing’s display of its growing military strength and its attempt to highlight Japan’s surrender in the war.
China has invited world leaders to attend the event including a rare military parade. Many Western leaders, however, remain reluctant, as it could further instigate Beijing’s rivalry with Japan.
Another official said Monday afternoon that Cheong Wa Dae would make a final decision on her trip to China in the latter part of next week as the nation is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese rule this week.
The decision can be made after reviewing the contents of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s planned speech on Aug. 14, and also his decision on attending the ceremony, he said.
Abe is expected to express “deep remorse” over Japan’s wartime wrongdoings, but may refrain from apologizing for its atrocities during the war.
The remarks came after local reports noted that Park has already decided to attend the ceremony and would use her visit to the headquarters of the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai for its reopening as an excuse.
“Many things are under consideration as the headquarters of the Korean provisional government in Shanghai will be reopened (at that time),” said a Cheong Wa Dae official.
By Cho Chung-un (
christory@heraldcorp.com)