Talks between S. Korea, Japan on wartime labor camps
日本韩国商讨战时集中营问题
South Korean and Japanese officials are scheduled to hold talks in Tokyo today, after Japan asked UNESCO to provide world heritage status to sites built during the country's industrial revolution, some of which were used as labor camps during World War II.
Senior officials of cultural affairs from both sides will attend the meeting, which comes after South Korea's efforts to block Japan's bid to list a total of 23 facilities,including seven sites where nearly 60,000 Koreans were forced to work during World War II. South Korea says the listing is part of Japan's efforts to glorify and whitewash its wartime history.
South Korean President Park Geun Hye previously spoke to UNESCO director-general Irina Bokoca to criticize the bid, saying it created "unnecessary discord".
The final decision on the listing is expected to come during a series of UNESCO meetings, beginning June 28 in Bonn, Germany.