KOREAN MISSION IN JAPAN Tokyo

April 25, 1957

PRESS RELEASE TO UP
(From Minister YongShik Kim)
Denial-Report on informal
Talks on K-J Relations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Minister Yong Shik Kim, chief of the Korean Mission in Japan, today denied a story circulated by some press concerning the current informal talks between Korea and Japan for the settlement of the detainee issue and other pending problems.
Minister Kim stated:
In view of inaccuracy of a press report which stated as if the Korean side made last-minute demand" regarding the Peace Line and the issue on property claims, thus predicting pessimistic outcome of the current informal talks, I felt it necessary to set the record straight.
It has been the consistent stand of the Republic of Korea Government since the outset of the negotiations in 1952 to enforce the Peace Line for the purpose of forestalling fishing disputes and preserving fishery resources as well as preventing Communist inroad. Further, the Japanese Government has repeatedly been called upon to make clearcut withdrawal of the alleged property claim. This stand of the Korean Government has been made known to the Japanese side long before the commencement of the current informal talks.
As a result of sincere efforts on the part of the Korean Government to bring about a resumption of the deadlocked talks with Japan and also find solution to the imminent detainee issue, informal talks have been and are still underway. It is, therefore, the belief of the Korean Government that, if Japan shows sincerity, there will not be much difficulty in the way of the talks."