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Japan's PM Ishiba eager to resume 'shuttle diplomacy' with South Korea

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has expressed eagerness to resume communications with South Korea through so-called "shuttle diplomacy," with mutual visits by the two countries' leaders. Ishiba met on Friday with former prime minister Suga Yoshihide and other senior lawmakers from the Japan-South Korea Parliamentary Association. Suga chairs the Association. The Japanese lawmakers completed a two-day visit to South Korea on Thursday. They briefed Ishiba on their meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. Nagashima Akihisa, a special advisor to Prime Minister Ishiba who also serve as secretary general of the parliamentary association, later met reporters. Nagashima said the lawmakers told Ishiba that the meeting with Lee lasted longer than scheduled and was held in a very good atmosphere. He said historical issues were not raised during the meeting, and that the two sides agreed to aim for future-oriented relations. Nagashima said Ishiba asked if the lawmakers had conveyed a proposal to resume shuttle diplomacy with South Korea. He said Ishiba expressed the hope to meet President Lee at an early date.