Latest news with #Seoul-Tokyo
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Lee, Ishiba to hold summit on Aug. 23
President Lee Jae Myung will visit Tokyo on Aug. 23 to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Lee's office said Wednesday. The meeting will involve a dinner hosted by Ishiba during Lee's two-day working visit while on his way to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump on Aug. 25. Lee's trip to Japan is meant to resume a shuttle diplomacy — through which leaders of the two countries take turns traveling to a counterpart's country frequently without diplomatic formalities — Lee's spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a briefing at the presidential office in Seoul. Kang also said that the meeting is expected to "deepen personal ties and trust" between Lee and Ishiba, adding that the summit will cement forward-looking bilateral cooperation and highlight the need for stronger Seoul-Tokyo ties, as well as a three-way partnership involving Seoul, Tokyo and Washington. The announcement comes at a time when the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties through the Treaty of Basic Relations between Japan and Korea in 1965. When asked about the implications of Lee stopping by Tokyo before his trip to Washington, Kang said the meeting "is the outcome of a schedule arrangement" and did not elaborate further. The agenda items for the talks between Lee and Ishiba were being arranged, Kang said. However, she said, "Our people's health is our biggest concern," when asked about Japanese Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi's request to lift Japanese seafood import restrictions during his recent visit to Seoul. Lee and Ishiba officially met for the first time on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada in June. There, South Korea's liberal president described the two countries as "neighbors sharing a front yard."
Korea Herald
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Seoul, Tokyo top diplomats vow to strengthen ties in 1st phone call
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Thursday held his first phone call with his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, discussing regional issues and bilateral relations, the foreign ministry said. During the conversation, Cho stressed the importance of Seoul-Tokyo relations, describing them as a key axis of the South Korean government's pragmatic diplomacy, alongside trilateral cooperation with Washington. Cho, who took office on Monday, suggested the two countries work to build a more solid, future-oriented relationship based on mutual trust and understanding. The Japanese foreign minister congratulated Cho on his appointment and expressed his desire to continue and strengthen their close cooperation, according to the ministry. The ministry added both ministers agreed on the need to deepen mutual understanding and work closely together across various sectors, especially in light of complex global challenges. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
16-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Lee calls on S. Korea, Japan to join hands for future ahead of 60th anniv. of ties
President Lee Jae-myung on Monday called for South Korea and Japan to join hands for a better future, casting the two neighbors as important partners bound to work together amid a rapidly changing global environment. Lee made the remark in a congratulatory video message at the start of an event hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which falls on this Sunday. "South Korea and Japan are key partners who must cooperate closely in responding to a rapidly changing global landscape. Let's join hands and move toward a better future," Lee said. The phrase "join hands and move toward a better future" is the official slogan for the 60th anniversary of the normalization of the ties. Korea was under Japan's colonial rule from 1910-45. "Building on the achievements and progress we have made so far, I sincerely hope that Korea and Japan will continue to develop a stable and future-oriented relationship," he said. Lee did not attend Monday's ceremony, as he had departed for Canada to take part in an expanded meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) summit. Attention is being drawn to whether Lee will meet bilaterally with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the margins of the G7 gathering. "As we look ahead to the upcoming G7 summit and beyond, I hope to build a strong foundation of trust and friendship with the prime minister," Lee added. Lee has signaled a departure from his hard-line stance on the Asian neighbor to maintain the positive momentum in bilateral relations that dramatically improved under the previous conservative government. Lee has pledged to take a "two-track" approach, separating efforts for forward-looking cooperation from historical disputes rooted in the colonial period. Among those attending Monday's ceremony were Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Ji-na and Akihisa Nagashima, special adviser to Ishiba, along with government officials, business leaders, academics, and other key stakeholders from both countries. In a congratulatory remark, Nagashima pointed out that close communication between Seoul and Tokyo is "indispensable" given the current challenging international environment. "It's not a problem of choice ... This cooperation will encompass various fields, including security, economy, energy, technology and culture," he said. Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koichi Mizushima highlighted the progress in bilateral exchanges for the past six decades, including trade, tourism and culture, saying the Seoul-Tokyo relations are "standing at a new starting point." "The deepening and development of Japan-South Korea relations is undeniable fact," he said in his speech. "We must strive to achieve further leaps in Japan-South Korea relations in the next 60 years and beyond by supporting the next generation who will shape the future of both countries." A variety of performances were held ahead of the ceremony, including those by a student choir from the Seoul Japan School and Korean pianist Lee Kyung-mi. On one side of the stage, an old folding screen was on display, originally used at the treaty ratification ceremony in Seoul on Dec. 18, 1965. The screen is the left panel of a pair, with the right panel held at the South Korean Embassy in Japan. This marks its second public showing, following its display at the 50th anniversary celebration. Inscribed on the screen is an excerpt from a classical poem by 16th-century Korean poet and politician Jeong Cheol, also known by his pen name, Songgang. The latter part of the event was to feature Mizushima conferring awards on individuals and groups in recognition of their contributions to promoting bilateral relations and cultural exchange.
Korea Herald
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Will Seoul's leadership change disrupt warming ties with Tokyo?
Stability ahead — but mutual public trust still missing ingredient of Korea–Japan relations Bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan are unlikely to face a major upheaval after South Korea's new government is swiftly inaugurated next week, former vice foreign ministers from the two countries said Thursday, citing deeper public understanding and recognition of the ties' importance by the top two presidential contenders. Still, both emphasized that rebuilding public trust is essential for forging lasting, future-oriented relations at a time when strategic cooperation — from countering North Korean threats to addressing routing regional challenges — has never been more vital. Kenichiro Sasae, president of the Japan Institute of International Affairs and former Japanese vice foreign minister, offered an optimistic outlook for Seoul-Tokyo relations, ahead of South Korea's early presidential election on June 3. The focal point is on whether the incoming government will carry the baton forward in improving Seoul-Tokyo ties, as the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations this year. The liberal Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, remains the front-runner and is widely expected to win. The outgoing administration of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol of the conservative People Power Party had placed great emphasis on mending fences with Tokyo. 'Of course, if leadership changes, the details of the policy could change as well. But on that basis, I think what's most important is that, even if there is political change or instability, there should be a strong sense of mutual understanding and interaction between the peoples of both countries,' Sasae said in remarks in Japanese during a session at the Jeju Forum on Jeju Island. 'Over the last five, 10, even 20 years, I think there has been significant progress in this area,' he added, speaking at a session reflecting on the past and exploring visions for future cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo as the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. People, not politics, lead ties Sasae highlighted active cultural exchanges — including pop culture and television dramas — as well as increasing people-to-people exchanges between the two countries as positive factors for bilateral ties. The number of travelers between South Korea and Japan surpassed 12 million in 2024 — including 3.22 million Japanese visitors to Korea and 8.82 million Korean visitors to Japan — the highest figure ever recorded, according to the Korea Tourism Organization and the Japan National Tourism Organization. 'The reason I bring this up is because, especially among younger generations, I feel there's a growing optimism that even if the political climate changes, the way Japanese and Korean people feel about each other won't be so easily swayed,' Sasae said. 'There are more and more people whose attitudes aren't dictated by shifts in government or politics.' Sasae also argued that Seoul and Tokyo should seek to strike the right balance between historical disputes stemming from Japan's colonial occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945 and pending issues that require bilateral cooperation. 'I hope Korean politics will respond to this reality, and at the same time, as I mentioned earlier, I hope Japanese people will try to better understand the feelings and memories that are central to Koreans," Sasae said. 'We must continue to hold these feelings deeply in our hearts as we move forward and share them. It's about striking a balance between these two aspects.' Consistency expected, risks still lurk On the prospects for bilateral ties, Shin Kak-soo, deputy chair of the Seoul-based NEAR Foundation and a former vice foreign minister, said, 'Even if there is a change of government in South Korea, I don't think there's a high likelihood of major turbulence in Korea-Japan relations.' Shin noted that the People Power Party's candidate, Kim Moon-soo, emphasizes continuity, while Lee Jae-myung stresses pragmatic diplomacy. 'So I believe there will be a certain degree of consistency maintained,' Shin said. Yet Shin pointed out that disparities between Seoul and Tokyo in their actions on North Korea- and China-related issues — despite similar rhetoric — could pose a risk of turbulence in bilateral ties. 'What does concern me, however, is that there are significant differences between the two sides when it comes to responding to US-China tensions, addressing North Korea's nuclear threat and dealing with China's assertive diplomatic and security policies,' Shin said. "That's why I can't be entirely optimistic about Korea-Japan relations going forward. These are potential risk factors. In this regard, it's all the more necessary for Korea and Japan to engage in deeper strategic dialogue and communication." Shin said Seoul-Tokyo ties should not remain at the level of abstract cooperation. 'To minimize strategic uncertainty and volatility in Northeast Asia, East Asia and the Indo-Pacific, there is no alternative but for Korea and Japan to pursue strategic cooperation,' he said — a view echoed by Sasae. On historical disputes, Shin assessed, 'most of the major fires have been put out,' but said both sides 'should work together to put out remaining sparks,' given the possibility that lingering embers could flare up again. Public trust above new declarations Asked about the need for a new joint declaration to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties — following the historic 2008 declaration on building a new, future-oriented partnership — both agreed that what matters most is not another document, but restoring public trust. 'The most important thing, in my view, is restoring mutual trust between the people of Korea and Japan," Shin said. "Without greater understanding and restored trust, it will be extremely difficult for both countries, as they are both democracies." Echoing the sentiment, Sasae also underscored, 'the most important thing is to create an atmosphere where people feel, 'Yes, this is something we can achieve.'" "Unless there is trust between both sides, such cooperation is very difficult, no matter what's written on paper. That's why I think it is essential to make efforts to build up that trust first." dagyumji@
