Japanese Foreign Ministry changes wording about Korea-Japan ties on website

Perhaps another sign of worsening bilateral relations between Korea and Japan…Tokyo's foreign affairs ministry's website has revised one of its phrases describing the bilateral relations. And this is raising some eyebrows.Arirang's Kwon Soa has more. An introductory section about the relationship between Korea and Japan on the website of Tokyo's Foreign Affairs Ministry used to say...that Korea, an important neighbor, shares basic thoughts on freedom, democracy and economic issues. But the ministry has taken out a chunk of the explanation, and now it just says that Korea is Japan's "most important neighbor." Japan's Foreign Ministry said the change was made to make it similar to recently used expressions.In fact, two years ago when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talked about Korea-Japan relations, he used wording that was similar to what used to be on the homepage, while what he said during a policy meeting last month was more like the current expression. "Korea is our most important neighboring country. Marking the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and Korea, we will continue our dialogue with Korea. We are always open to talks."Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reports that the change seems to show Japan's mistrust toward Korea.Korea's Foreign Ministry told Arirang News that it's inappropriate to comment on the significance of the change.But there is speculation that the removal of the words may have some greater meaning, as Abe has recently hinted he will take out references to Japan's war atrocities in a statement he will make in August marking Japan's surrender at the end of World War Two.Kwon Soa, Arirang News.