South Korea President Lee, Japan PM Ishiba agree to strengthen ties
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said he wanted to deal with geopolitical crises through three-way cooperation with Tokyo and Washington. (EPA Images pic)
SEOUL : South Korea's newly-elected President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed during a telephone call to strengthen bilateral ties, a South Korean presidential spokesman and Japan's foreign ministry said today.
The call comes after the two leaders said they aimed for their countries to continue coordination on North Korea issues.
Lee, a left-leaning leader who was elected last week, has said pragmatism was key to his diplomacy and he would continue with security cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the US.
Lee told Ishiba that he wanted to deal with geopolitical crises within the framework of three-way cooperation with Tokyo and Washington, Kang Yoo-jung, Lee's spokesman, told reporters.
'Reaffirming the significance of bilateral ties, the two leaders agreed to meet in person to further develop relations,' Kang added.
Ishiba told Lee that he wished to further advance bilateral relations 'through mutual efforts based on the foundation built by both governments so far', according to a statement from Japan's foreign ministry.
'The call lasted for about 25 minutes,' the ministry said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
South Korea president calls for extra budget to be ready swiftly
South Korea's economy contracted in the first three months of the year as exports and consumption stalled amid US tariff fears. (EPA Images pic) SEOUL : South Korean President Lee Jae-myung urged officials today to swiftly draw up a supplementary budget plan aimed at supporting economic recovery and spurring consumption, his office said. Lee, who took office last week, has made economic recovery a priority, launching an emergency economy taskforce with government officials. The economy contracted in the first three months of the year as exports and consumption stalled amid fear over the impact of US tariffs, fanning expectations of interest rate cuts. If the extra budget is finalised under Lee, that would add to the country's earlier supplementary budget of ₩13.8 trillion (US$9.7 billion) approved on May 1. During his election campaign, Lee had emphasised the need for an extra budget to provide short-term economic stimulus. At the taskforce meeting today, he also asked for measures to stabilise prices, saying the increasing cost of living is causing 'too much pain'. 'Prices are causing too much pain for the people, so please check the current situation and see if there are any possible measures and report them even before the next meeting,' Lee said, referring to higher prices of instant noodles. Prices of chicken and eggs have risen since an outbreak of avian flu in Brazil, a vice finance minister told Lee during the meeting. The government has restricted chicken imports from avian flu-affected areas in Brazil. The left-leaning president is expected to pursue fiscal expansion policies, including increased cash subsidies and welfare, aimed at bolstering economic growth despite concerns over rising debt levels.
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Chinese aircraft carrier sails east of Iwo Jima for first time
China defended the Liaoning's voyage as 'fully in line with international law and practice'. (EPA Images pic) TOKYO : The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed through waters east of the island of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Ocean for the first time, Japan's top government spokesman said today. Japan would strengthen surveillance and gather necessary information, chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a regular press briefing in Tokyo. Japan has also sent 'an appropriate message' to China, Hayashi said without elaborating. Iwo Jima is located 1,000km south of Tokyo. A statement by Japan's joint staff over the weekend said that the Liaoning, accompanied by some other ships, sailed in the sea within Japan's exclusive economic zone near Minamitorishima, a remote island east of Iwo Jima. Japan also confirmed fighter jets and helicopters taking off and landing from Liaoning in the waters southeast of Iwo Jima yesterday. China's foreign ministry today defended the aircraft carrier's voyage as 'fully in line with international law and practice'. Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular press briefing that China had 'always pursued a defensive national defence policy' and urged Japan to look at the issue 'objectively and rationally'.
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
South Korea's new President Lee, Japan's Ishiba agree to boost ties
SEOUL, June 9 — South Korea's newly-elected President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed during a telephone call to strengthen bilateral ties, a South Korean presidential spokesperson and Japan's foreign ministry said today. The call comes after the two leaders said they aimed for their countries to continue coordination on North Korea issues. Lee, a left-leaning leader who was elected last week, has said pragmatism was key to his diplomacy and he would continue with security cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the US. Lee told Ishiba that he wanted to deal with geopolitical crises within the framework of three-way cooperation with Tokyo and Washington, Kang Yoo-jung, Lee's spokesperson, told reporters. Reaffirming the significance of bilateral ties, the two leaders agreed to meet in person to further develop relations, Kang added. Ishiba told Lee that he wished to further advance bilateral relations 'through mutual efforts based on the foundation built by both governments so far', according to a statement from Japan's foreign ministry. The call lasted for about 25 minutes, the ministry said. — Reuters
