Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Han Seung-soo said Sunday that South Korea and China are already cooperating on ways to deal with Japan's reluctance to rewrite its whitewashed history textbooks.
Speaking on a TV discussion program, Han said that Seoul and Beijing shared similar views regarding the fact that Tokyo must revise distortions in its history books. He added that the two countries were watching what the Japanese would do and devise policies to reflect whatever actions would be necessary.
He also emphasized that the two countries were already exchanging information, and that they were considering concerted efforts in the international arena to pressure the Japanese government to reassess its position.
He stressed that world opinion supports historic truths and if Japan continues to ignore this, the situation could possibly lead to a halt of exchanges between Korea and neighbors across the sea.
The foreign minister said that since the two countries had to co-host the 2002 World Cup, he hoped Japan would resolve the controversy before the games began.