On September 4, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama received a courtesy call from the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Kwon Chul-Hyun. The two confirmed their intention of promoting further friendship and development in Japan-ROK relations.

Hatoyama welcomed the Ambassador with a firm handshake. Kwon said that the people of the Republic of Korea had high expectations regarding the birth of a DPJ government, and expressed his conviction that the issues of concern existing between the ROK and Japan could be resolved through Hatoyama’s philosophy of “fraternity”.

Hatoyama said, “The fraternal spirit is an extremely important concept, and I am honoured that you should refer to it.” He went on to call for cooperation between Japan and the ROK on issues related to North Korea.