South Korea’s Moon Jae-in cancels Tokyo trip amid outcry over Japanese diplomat’s sexual innuendo

The decision came after a top Japanese diplomat apparently ridiculed plans to hold a summit with PM Yoshihide Suga during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Analysts say the episode illustrates how difficult it is for the two neighbours to mend fences with each other

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in will not attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games or meet with the Japanese prime minister. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:30pm, 19 Jul 2021Updated: 11:01pm, 19 Jul 2021

South Korea on Monday confirmed that President Moon Jae-in will not visit Japan this week, bringing an end to speculation that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games would see a summit between the leaders of the two neighbouring countries.

“President Moon Jae-in has decided not to visit Japan on the occasion of the Tokyo summer Olympics,” South Korea’s presidential Blue House announced.

The two governments have had “meaningful discussions on ways to move forward in pending history-related issues and on future-oriented cooperation”, Moon’s top aide for public affairs, Park Soo-hyun, said in a statement.

Although the consultations produced a “significant level” of mutual understanding, the extent of the progress was deemed “still insufficient” in securing substantial achievements at the summit talks, Park said.

He added that “various other situations” had been considered in making the decision.

Earlier in the day, a senior Blue House official cited an “obstacle” that emerged in the last phase of preparatory talks, apparently referring to crude remarks made by a senior Japanese diplomat in Seoul about Moon’s attempt to organise a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

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