South Korea and Japan to hold summit on sidelines of G-7 summit
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (left) will hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the G-7 summit on June 17 in Canada. PHOTO: AFP, REUTERS
South Korea and Japan to hold summit on sidelines of G-7 summit
SEOUL - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G-7) summit on June 17 in Canada, according to Mr Lee's office.
Mr Lee, who was sworn into office earlier this month after winning the June 3 snap presidential election, is visiting Canada on his first trip abroad for the G-7 summit.
It became 'difficult' to hold a meeting between Mr Lee and US President Donald Trump as planned after Mr Trump was leaving the summit early, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told a briefing.
Washington had asked for Seoul's understanding, Mr Wi said.
Mr Lee held talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on June 16 , his office said.
Seoul and Washington are holding working-level tariff talks, as the two sides try to agree on a deal seen as crucial for South Korea's export-oriented economy. South Korea's key sectors ranging from chips to vehicles and shipbuilding are heavily exposed to global trade.
Mr Lee, a left-leaning leader, has said pragmatism was key to his diplomacy and he would continue with security cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the United States. REUTERS
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