ARIRANG NEWS 14:00
Hello everyone. This is Arirang News. Live from Seoul, I′m Laah Hyun-kyung. The stories we′re following at this hour...
Japan′s Abe administration intends to express remorse over World War II in a statement this year. Analysts say this is Tokyo′s attempt at improving ties with its neighbors, China and Korea.
U.S. benchmark crude dips below the symbolic 50 dollars per barrel mark during trading on Monday... sending shockwaves to Wall Street.
Fears are rising that the nation will face another foot-and-mouth disease crisis as the number of reported cases increases. It started with pigs, but now a cow has tested positive.
Title: Japanese PM Abe says he will express remorse on WWII anniversary
In time for the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two,… Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his government will show remorse for Japan′s behavior during the war.
Analysts say this could help Tokyo improve ties with China and South Korea, but they will have to wait and see how much responsibility his Cabinet is willing to take for Japan′s wrongdoings.
For our top story, here′s Arirang News′ Ji Myung-kil.
Giving his first news conference of the year on Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he plans to express remorse in a fresh statement this year over Japan′s actions during the war and its postwar history as a pacifist nation.
"Our Cabinet will reflect on what we did wrong during the Second World War and on our progress as a peace loving nation. We will gather our knowledge to bring about a new statement on how to contribute further to the Asia-Pacific region and the world."
As Japan gears up to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war on August 15th, Prime Minister Abe said he had no intention of trying to re-interpret Japan′s historical wrongdoings.
"We will continue to adopt the stance of previous Cabinets with regards to the interpretation of history including the Murayama Statement."
On the 50th anniversary of the war′s end in August 1995, then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said Japan caused "tremendous damage and suffering" to Asia through its colonial rule and aggression, and expressed a "heartfelt apology."
There have been fears that Abe will come under pressure from right-wingers in Japan who would like the apology to be repealed.
Korea and China will be paying close attention to whether Abe will uphold the Murayama Statement.
This year has been identified as a chance for Tokyo to rebuild its strained ties with Seoul and Beijing.
Relations have been chilled by territorial disputes and Abe′s distorted views of wartime history.
Watchers say that, if Abe sticks to his word and offers a sincere apology,... it could present an opportunity for Korea, China and Japan to build stronger ties this year, and create a more peaceful and forward-looking atmosphere in Northeast Asia.
Ji Myung-kil, Arirang News.
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