Japan PM pledges stable ties with key partner South Korea under Lee
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 10:28 | All, Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday expressed hope for a stable improvement in ties with South Korea under new President Lee Jae Myung, saying he wants to hold summit talks at an early date.
Ishiba said Japan and South Korea should work as "partners" in tackling global challenges, and trilateral cooperation with their common ally the United States is also necessary at a time of security threats posed by North Korea.
Relations between Japan and South Korea improved under Lee's predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol after a period of difficulty stemming from issues related to wartime history. The leaders of the two nations resumed the practice of making reciprocal visits in 2023, in a sign of thawing ties.
"I hope to step up cooperation between Japan and South Korea, and trilaterally with the United States, under President Lee Jae Myung on the occasion of the 60th anniversary" of the normalization of diplomatic ties, Ishiba told reporters at his office.
Japanese officials will be watching for changes in South Korea's stance toward Japan under Lee, a liberal known for his hard-line stance on wartime issues related to Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, including compensation for Korean laborers.
Ishiba said he wants to promote frank dialogue and exchanges between the neighboring nations to make their connections even stronger, pointing out that Lee said he views Japan as an important partner during his presidential election campaign.
"The importance of holding summit talks at an early date and engaging in 'shuttle diplomacy' won't change," Ishiba said, referring to the practice of the leaders visiting each other's countries.
Related coverage:
South Korean liberal Lee begins 5-year presidential term
Liberal candidate Lee wins South Korea presidential election
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