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Sado Gold Mine memorial service held without South Korean attendance
A memorial service was held on September 12 in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, to honor all workers associated with the Sado Gold Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, South Korean representatives were absent from the ceremony for the third consecutive year.
During the service, Yukiya Hamamoto, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed condolences, noting that workers from the Korean Peninsula endured difficult labor in dangerous mine environments during the war. Despite this, the Japanese government did not use the specific term 'forced labor' in its remarks, a point of contention that has contributed to the ongoing diplomatic friction.
Sado City Mayor Ryugo Watanabe expressed condolences to those who lost their lives and urged the Japanese government to continue discussions with South Korea to resolve the impasse. The disagreement stems from differing views on how to describe the nature of the labor performed by Korean Peninsula workers during the Japanese colonial period.
Entities
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Ryugo Watanabe · Sado City · Sado Gold Mine · Sado Mine · South Korean government · UNESCO · Yukiya Hamamoto
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Sado City Mayor Ryugo Watanabe requested that the Japanese government engage in discussions with South Korea. www.fnn.jp
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Japanese government did not use the term 'forced labor' during the memorial service for the Sado Gold Mine. kaigai.ch · www.fnn.jp
- [○ 1 SOURCE] South Korean representatives have been absent from the memorial service for three consecutive years. www.fnn.jp
- [● 2 SOURCES] Yukiya Hamamoto, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, stated that Korean Peninsula workers faced dangerous and harsh conditions in mines during the war. kaigai.ch · www.fnn.jp