President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held a summit meeting in Kananaskis, Canada, on June 17 (local time), on the sidelines of the G7 summit. The two leaders engaged in discussions for approximately 30 minutes, underscoring the urgency of cooperation between South Korea and Japan amid ongoing shifts within the strategic environment.

Marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization between the two nations, President Lee and Prime Minister Ishiba expressed a shared commitment to making Korea-Japan relations stronger and more mature than ever before.

Both sides agreed to advance bilateral relations further, based on mutual respect and trust, and pledged to facilitate more frequent and frank dialogue between officials from both countries.

They also addressed the need to explore practical avenues for cooperation in various fields, including economic affairs and culture, and noted that such discussions would continue in the future.

Furthermore, the leaders had in-depth talks on strategies to maintain peace and stability in the region and to maximize bilateral interests, especially given the rapidly changing international environment.

The summit also highlighted the shared understanding that close trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan is essential in the face of regional security threats, including those posed by North Korea. Both leaders stressed that strengthening bilateral collaboration between Seoul and Tokyo is equally important.

Following their recent phone conversation, President Lee and Prime Minister Ishiba reaffirmed their dedication to revitalizing shuttle diplomacy. They agreed to concretize its implementation by advancing working-level consultations.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo = Korea Policy Briefing, Yonhap News