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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Japan-South Korea Summit: Leaders Hail 'Great Significance' of Shuttle Diplomacy

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung held expanded summit talks in Andong, South Korea.
  • Both leaders emphasized the importance of close communication through shuttle diplomacy amidst global instability and discussed cooperation on supply chains, AI, and energy security.
  • They also agreed to strengthen security cooperation, including trilateral cooperation with the U.S., and to expand joint efforts to address North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi lauded the ongoing shuttle diplomacy between Japan and South Korea as having "great significance" during her summit with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Andong, the President's hometown. In a joint press conference following their expanded meeting, Takaichi highlighted the importance of close communication between the two leaders amidst a turbulent international landscape.

In a time when the international community is in turmoil and unstable, it is of great significance that the leaders of Japan and Korea are maintaining close communication through shuttle diplomacy.

— Sanae TakaichiJapanese Prime Minister Takaichi's assessment of the bilateral summit held in Andong.

The discussions covered a range of critical issues, including regional security, supply chain cooperation, and future growth engines like artificial intelligence (AI). Prime Minister Takaichi expressed welcome for the nascent cooperation on energy security and affirmed the commitment to continue dialogues on AI and economic security. Both leaders found common ground on the necessity of bolstering security cooperation, not only between Japan and South Korea but also within the trilateral framework involving the United States.

Furthermore, Japan and South Korea agreed to enhance their coordinated response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. President Lee expressed gratitude for Japan's support in resolving the issue of Japanese abductees, a long-standing concern for Tokyo. The leaders also signed a memorandum of cooperation on combating transnational organized crime, underscoring a shared commitment to tackling cross-border challenges.

I am very pleased to be able to visit Andong, surrounded by beautiful nature, and I thank President Lee once again for his consideration.

— Sanae TakaichiPrime Minister Takaichi expressing her gratitude for the hospitality during the 'hometown shuttle diplomacy' visit.

Prime Minister Takaichi's visit to Andong marked the completion of the 'hometown shuttle diplomacy' initiated by President Lee's visit to Nara, Japan, in January. Takaichi expressed her pleasure in visiting Andong and extended an invitation to President Lee for the next reciprocal visit to Japan, playfully asking if a visit to a Japanese hot spring would be suitable. This gesture underscores the personal rapport being built between the leaders, aiming to foster a more robust and cooperative bilateral relationship.

Shall we do it with hot springs? Where shall we go? I will invite you to a beautiful place.

— Sanae TakaichiPrime Minister Takaichi playfully suggesting locations for President Lee's reciprocal visit to Japan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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