This combo photo shows the Republic of Korea's President Moon Jae-in (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. (PHOTOS / AP)
TOKYO/SEOUL – South Korean President Moon Jae-in will not visit Tokyo for the upcoming Olympics, his office said on Monday, scrapping plans for what would have been his first summit with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
The announcement came after Seoul lodged a protest over a news report on Friday that a senior diplomat at Japan's embassy in Seoul had said Moon was "masturbating" when describing his efforts to improve relations between the two countries.
"President Moon has decided not to visit Japan," Moon's press secretary Park Soo-hyun said at a briefing. "As the Tokyo Olympics is a peaceful festival for all people around the world, we hope that Japan will host it safely and successfully."
South Korea reacted with anger and lodged a protest with Tokyo after a broadcaster on Friday quoted a senior diplomat at Japan's embassy in Seoul as saying Moon was "masturbating" when describing the leader's efforts to improve ties with Tokyo
Speaking to reporters in Japan, Suga said he was not in a position to comment on Moon's decision not to visit Japan for the Olympics.
Regarding the diplomat's remark, Suga described it as "inappropriate".
The latest uproar further inflamed relations between the two nations feuding over territorial claims and their wartime history, dashing any remaining hopes that the Tokyo Games might offer a fresh start for bilateral and regional cooperation.
Japan's Yomiuri newspaper earlier on Monday reported Moon would meet Suga in Tokyo on Friday, in time for the start of the Olympics. But both governments quickly denied a meeting had been finalized, with Moon's office citing an "last minute obstacle".
Suga and Moon were planning to discuss issues that have strained relations over generations, including compensation for people forced to work in Japanese firms and military brothels during Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule, according to the Yomiuri report.
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Japan was also planning to replace a senior Seoul-based diplomat after his widely reported comment last week likening Moon's dealings with Japan to "masturbation", the Yomiuri reported.
Japan's top government spokesperson said the ambassador cautioned his deputy over reported remarks, calling them "inappropriate".
"The remarks were inappropriate as a diplomat, and we think it is very regrettable," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a regular briefing.
Asked about the report about the diplomat's removal, Kato said it was a matter for the foreign minister and did not provide further details.
A summit between the two leaders had not been decided but if Moon decided to visit, Japan would accommodate him, Kato added.
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South Korea’s Vice-Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun summoned Japan's Ambassador Koichi Aiboshi on Saturday to protest.
"He also demanded the Japanese government to promptly take tangible and due steps to prevent a recurrence of such situation," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Suga this month called relations between Japan and South Korea "very difficult", adding that it was up to Seoul to provide a response to the problems.