South Korea, Japan aim to show solidarity amid conflicting US signals at Tokyo summit
For Lee, who is treading a careful line between Beijing and Washington, the summit offers a chance to consolidate ties with Tokyo before his first meeting with US President
Donald Trump.
For Ishiba, it will be an opportunity to demonstrate diplomatic leadership and recover from a bruising election loss in July – when his coalition failed to retain a majority in the upper house, raising doubts within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) over his leadership.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (front, centre) waves the national flag during a ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule in Seoul on Friday. Photo: EPA
In Friday's Liberation Day speech marking 80 years since the end of Japanese colonial rule, Lee urged Japan to 'face up to the painful history of the past' and ensure that bilateral trust 'is not undermined'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Standard
25 minutes ago
- The Standard
South Korea's Lee to restore pact halting military activity on North Korean border
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. Ahn Young-joon/Pool via REUTERS
RTHK
an hour ago
- RTHK
Seoul woos Pyongyang in bid to ease tensions
Seoul woos Pyongyang in bid to ease tensions In his speech, Lee Jae-myung said "long drawn-out hostility benefits people in neither of the two Koreas". Photo: Reuters South Korea will end some military activities along its border with North Korea, President Lee Jae-myung said on Friday, in his government's latest effort to improve ties between the neighbouring countries still technically at war. In a speech to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Lee said he would restore the so-called September 19 Comprehensive Military Agreement. The pact was signed at an inter-Korean summit in 2018 and designed to de-escalate tension along the border. Pyongyang later tore up the agreement and said it would restore all military measures after Seoul suspended parts of the agreement amid a spike in tensions. Lee, who won a snap election in June, has sought to re-engage Pyongyang after a period of cross-border tension and shown a willingness to return to dialogue. "Everyone knows that the long drawn-out hostility benefits people in neither of the two Koreas," Lee said during his speech in Seoul. Lee said South Korea had no intention of absorbing North Korea for unification and respected Pyongyang's current system. He cited his government's efforts to lower tensions, including halting the launch of balloons floated by activists with anti-North Korea leaflets and dismantling loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts across the heavily-militarised border. "In particular, to prevent accidental clashes between South and North Korea and to build military trust, we will take proactive, gradual steps to restore the September 19 Military Agreement," Lee said. In June 2024, then South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol declared a complete suspension of the military pact in response to North Korea's move to send hundreds of rubbish-stuffed balloons across the border. "I hope that North Korea will reciprocate our efforts to restore trust and revive dialogue," Lee said. Earlier this month, South Korea and the United States announced a delay in parts of their annual joint military exercises that have been a source of tension with North Korea. Top North Korean officials have, however, in recent weeks dismissed moves taken by Lee's new liberal government aimed at easing tension between the two Koreas. Lee would keep seeking to peacefully denuclearise North Korea through cooperation with the international community and dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington, he said. (Reuters)
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
South Korea, Japan aim to show solidarity amid conflicting US signals at Tokyo summit
South Korea and Japan could use their coming bilateral summit to project stability to Washington, which was simultaneously imposing high tariffs on its allies while seeking their cooperation to counter China , analysts said. For Lee, who is treading a careful line between Beijing and Washington, the summit offers a chance to consolidate ties with Tokyo before his first meeting with US President Donald Trump. For Ishiba, it will be an opportunity to demonstrate diplomatic leadership and recover from a bruising election loss in July – when his coalition failed to retain a majority in the upper house, raising doubts within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) over his leadership. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (front, centre) waves the national flag during a ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule in Seoul on Friday. Photo: EPA In Friday's Liberation Day speech marking 80 years since the end of Japanese colonial rule, Lee urged Japan to 'face up to the painful history of the past' and ensure that bilateral trust 'is not undermined'.
