KOREAN EMBASSY
36, Cadogan square,
London, S.W.I.
Telephone: KENsington 8025
Background Information For Immediate Release
NEW PROPOSALS FOR SETTLEMENTIn a sincere effort to ease the present tension between Korea and Japan resulting from the problem of the Korean Residents in Japan, Ambassador Yiu, the Korean representative in Japan, had yesterday proposed to the Japanese Foreign Minister that the Japanese Government would agree to the unconditional resumption of the bilateral talk at an earliest possible date with a view to preventing the present Korea - Japan situation from being further deteriorated.
At a meeting held in Tokyo, Ambassador Yiu stated to the Japanese Foreign Minister, to the effect that the Government of the Republic of Korea considered it most unfortunate to prolong the present situation which would be surely utilised for political purposes by the Communists, against which the Republic of Korea fought a struggle of life and death, thus bringing about great harm to the security of North-East Asia and that his Government was firmly determined to settle, in the overall bilateral talks to be resumed, the problem of Korean residents in Japan, which has created the present stalemate.
It was emphasised by the Korean Envoy that in attempting to settle the ouststanding problems various difficulties should be overcome by mutual efforts, but that the difficulties could be removed only if the two sides would get together at a conference table.
In proposing unconditional resumption of the bilateral talk, Ambassador Yiu pointed out that strictly in accordance with the Agreement of 1957, the Korean Government had repatriated all those Japanese fishermen who were entitled to it under the terms of the agreement, but that to the regret of the Korean Government, the Government of Japan failed to repatriate the Korean detainees at Omura Camp who should have been released under the said agreement, and whom the Japanese government promised to repatriate to the Republic of Korea by the Japanese transportation. In this connection, Ambassador Yiu notified the Japanese Government that as soon as Japan repatriates the Korean detainees presently at Omura to the Republic of Korea, the Korean Government from a humanitarian standpoint, will repatriate those Japanese fishermen who served their sentences as of 30th July 1959, notwithstanding the agreement of 1957.
The Japanese Foreign Minister was also notified that the Korean Mission in Tokyo was ready to discuss with the Japanese Foreign Ministry on the implementation of the mutual repatriation of detainees if the latter would so agree.

31st July, 1959.

KOREAN EMBASSY
36, Cardigan Square,
London, S.W.I.
Telephone: KENsington 8025
Background Information
For Immediate Release
NEW PROPOSALS FOR SETTLEMENT
In a sincere effort to ease the present tension between Korea and Japan resulting from the problem of the Korean Residents in Japan, Ambassador Yiu, the Korean representative in Japan, had yesterday proposed to the Japanese Foreign Minister that the Japanese Government would agree to the unconditional resumption of the bilateral talk at An earliest possible date with a view to preventing the present Korea - Japan situation from being further deteriorated.
At a meeting held in Tokyo, Ambassador Yiu stated to the Japanese Foreign Minister, to the effect that the Government of the Republic of Korea considered it most unfortunate to prolong the present situation which would be surely utilised for political purposes by the Communists, against which the Republic of Korea fought a struggle of life and death, thus bringing about great harm to the security of North-East Asia and that his Government was firmly determined to settle, in the overall bilateral talks to be resumed, the problem of Korean residents in Japan, which has created the present stalemate.
It was emphasised by the Korean Envoy that in attempting to settle the outstanding problems various difficulties should be overcome by mutual efforts, but that the difficulties could be removed only if the two sides would get together at a conference table.
In proposing unconditional resumption of the bilateral talk, Ambassador Yiu pointed out that strictly in accordance with the Agreement of 1957, the Korean Government had repatriated all those Japanese fishermen who were entitled to it under the terms of the agreement, but that to the regret of the Korean Government, the Government of Japan failed to repatriate the Korean detainees at Omura Camp who should have been released under the said agreement, and whom the Japanese government promised to repatriate to the Republic of Korea by the Japanese transportation. In this connection, Ambassador Yiu notified the Japanese Government that as soon as Japan repatriates the Korean detainees presently at Omura to the Republic of Korea, the Korean Government, from a humanitarian standpoint, will repatriate those Japanese fishermen who served their sentences as of 30th July 1259, notwithstanding the agreement of 1957.
The Japanese Foreign Minister was also notified that the Korean Mission in Tokyo was ready to discuss with the Japanese Foreign Ministry on the implementation of the mutual repatriation of detainees if the latter would so agree.

31st July, 1959.