Japanese and South Korean leaders could hold first meeting during G7 summit
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung could hold their first meeting at a Group of Seven (G7) summit later this month in Canada, after Lee announced Saturday that he would be attending the event.
Lee took office Wednesday after winning South Korea's presidential election following the ouster of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, over his short-lived martial law declaration in December.
The South Korean Presidential Office said in a statement that Lee had been invited by G7 leaders to attend the meeting — making it his first foray onto the international diplomatic stage. The summit involves the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States and is scheduled to take place for three days from June 15. Indian leader Narendra Modi has also been invited by host Canada.
Lee, who had in the past been known for a seemingly hard-line stance toward Japan — including his fierce opposition to the Yoon administration's third-party compensation plan for Korean wartime laborers at Japanese factories and mines before and during World War II — repeatedly denied he was anti-Japan, calling this a 'preconception.'
In an inaugural address Wednesday, the new South Korean leader said his government would continue Yoon's policy of strengthening cooperation with Japan amid concerns in Tokyo that he might reverse agreements reached under his ousted predecessor that led to a thaw in ties.
Ishiba was quick to congratulate Lee on his victory, emphasizing just ahead of Lee's speech that he hoped to use this year, the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, as a chance to "further intensify cooperation between Japan and South Korea' — despite the new president's reputation.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung during his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul on Wednesday. |
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"The new president has made statements in the past, but during the election campaign he said that Japan is an important partner and that he loves the Japanese people," Ishiba said.
"It would be good if we could hold a Japan-South Korea summit as soon as possible," he added.
Lee could also hold his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, while Ishiba may also hold talks with his American counterpart on the sidelines of the summit, where the U.S. and Japan could announce an agreement on a trade deal over sweeping tariffs slapped on Tokyo by Washington.
Trump and Lee held their first phone call Friday, with the two agreeing to work toward a swift tariff deal, while Japan's top negotiator met with his U.S. counterparts in Washington this week.
Trump has slapped Japan and South Korea — two of the United States' top allies in Asia — with onerous tariffs, measures that both Tokyo and Seoul are eager to see removed.
It is not clear if Ishiba, Lee and Trump would also hold talks, though all three leaders have said they hope to continue trilateral cooperation.
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