The Ukishima Maru, a Japanese naval transport vessel, on Aug. 22, 1945, departed for Busan from the port of Ominato in Japan's Aomori Prefecture with Korean victims of forced labor. An explosion occurred two days later in the hull under mysterious circumstances, sinking the ship. (Yonhap News)

By Koh Hyunjeong

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs after 79 years has obtained part of the passenger list for a Japanese naval transport vessel that sank in 1945 after an explosion in the hull.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sept. 5 said it received such information on the ill-fated Ukishima Maru after negotiations with the Japanese government. Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare delivered 19 of 75 documents related to the vessel after an internal investigation to the Korean Embassy in Tokyo.

The vessel on Aug. 22, 1945, left for Busan from the port of Ominato in Japan's Aomori Prefecture carrying Korean victims of forced labor. The hull saw an explosion two days later under unexplained circumstances.

"The list contains a lot of personal information on the victims," the ministry said. "We will continue efforts to ensure that the victims of the Ukishima Maru incident are saved and smoothly uncover the truth."

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sept. 6 will arrive in Korea for a two-day visit.

hjkoh@korea.kr