Japan Prime Minister Speaks With New South Korean Leader; Phone Call Represents First Talks Since Lee's Election
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held telephone talks with new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung for about 25 minutes on Monday.
It was the first conversation between the two since Lee was elected president.
They are believed to have confirmed that Japan, the United States and South Korea need to cooperate in diplomatic and security fields, according to diplomatic sources.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asahi Shimbun
37 minutes ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Ishiba, Lee share hopes for early meeting in first phone talks
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to reporters following the election of Lee Jae-myung as South Korean president on June 4. (Takeshi Iwashita) Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung agreed on the need for improved ties between their respective nations as they talked on the telephone on June 9. According to a Japanese government statement, the two leaders shared 'hopes for an early opportunity for a face-to-face meeting.' It was the first time that Lee, who assumed the presidency on June 4, and Ishiba have held talks. During the conversation that lasted for about 25 minutes from noon, Ishiba and Lee agreed on the importance of Japan-South Korea relations and cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea. They also confirmed that Japan-South Korea relations should be developed in a stable manner. Ishiba told Lee that he 'would like to work closely (with Seoul) in dealing with North Korea, including the abduction issue of Japanese nationals by North Korea,' according to the Japanese government. According to an announcement by the Office of the President of South Korea, the two leaders agreed to create a more solid and mature relationship between the two countries based on mutual respect and trust. Lee also stressed that Japan-Korea relations are becoming more important in today's strategic environment, and expressed hope that the two countries will respond to challenges together from the perspective of mutual national interests and seek a direction in which they can coexist in harmony. It was the second time that Lee has held phone talks with a foreign leader, following U.S. President Donald Trump on the evening of June 6. Ishiba and Lee are scheduled to attend the Group of Seven summit in Canada on June 15-17, and may hold their first face-to-face meeting as early as this occasion. (This article was written by Kei Kobayashi, and correspondent Akihiko Kaise.)
an hour ago
Japan's Ishiba Vows Full Probe into Rice Price Surges
News from Japan Politics Jun 9, 2025 18:21 (JST) Tokyo, June 9 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday that a ministerial council on stable rice supplies will conduct a full probe to determine what have caused price surges for the staple food. At a meeting of the Audit Committee of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan's parliament, Ishiba also said that the council will discuss measures to support rice farmers working to cut costs and increase exports. "If we take rice lightly, Japan's existence will be put at risk," Ishiba said. "We will hold substantial discussions." END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Nikkei Asia
2 hours ago
- Nikkei Asia
Kim Jong Un holds all the cards on the Korean Peninsula
Gabriela Bernal is a Korean affairs analyst based in Seoul and a non-resident fellow at the European Centre for North Korean Studies. The election of Lee Jae-myung as South Korea's president represents a decisive return to progressive leadership in Seoul, yet expectations of a renewed era of inter-Korean detente are premature. Despite his liberal credentials, Lee's presidency faces overwhelming obstacles to meaningfully improving relations with North Korea in the near term.
