Japan stressed the importance of cooperation and close communication with South Korea amid the latest conflict over a memorial event for Korean victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period.

At a press conference Tuesday, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said bilateral cooperation is important for both countries’ interests in the current strategic environment.

Hayashi, who had refuted a Kyodo News report that Japan’s chief envoy to the event, Akiko Ikuina, had in 2022 paid a visit to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine honoring Class-A war criminals, said he intends to demand an explanation from the news agency.

He also said he had deep regret over the confusion caused by Kyodo’s decision to issue a report that was not based in fact.

Although Kyodo issued a correction Monday night, Seoul’s foreign ministry said its decision not to send a delegation to the memorial event on Sunday was based on “consideration of various circumstances.”

During Sunday’s ceremony, Ikuina delivered a speech that notably omitted any reference to forced labor.