NARA—The summit between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung here on Jan. 13 signaled continued improvement in relations between the two countries on past and current issues.
The leaders met at a hotel in Takaichi’s hometown, the historic city of Nara. It was the first time in about 14 years for a South Korean leader to visit a regional Japanese city for bilateral talks.
At a joint news conference after the summit, Takaichi said: “We were able to have a meaningful exchange of opinions on a wide range of topics. Under the leadership of the president and myself, I want to significantly develop Japan-South Korea relations.”
Takaichi welcomed the progress in a joint project to use DNA to identify human remains discovered at the Chosei coal mine in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Many workers from the Korean Peninsula died when the undersea mine collapsed during World War II.
Lee said they agreed to advance working-level talks on the disaster.
“We were able to make small but meaningful progress on past historical issues,” he said.
The two leaders also discussed economic security, including supply chains, and agreed on the importance of Japan-South Korea and Japan-South Korea-U.S. cooperation.
They confirmed that Tokyo and Seoul will cooperate to crack down on international organized fraud. Lee noted that Japan will participate in a council for international cooperation led by the South Korean National Police Agency.
Before the start of the summit after a smaller discussion session, Takaichi told reporters, “I have renewed my belief that while advancing Japan-South Korea relations together with the president, both our countries should work in concert to play a role in the stability of the region.”
She said she was pleased that both countries continuously demonstrated the resilience of their ties last year, the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.
“Starting with the president’s current visit, I am determined to make this a year in which we develop Japan-South Korea relations to even greater heights,” Takaichi said.
Lee expressed a similar sentiment.
“At this time when the importance of exchange between South Korea and Japan is growing more than ever, it holds a very special meaning for the prime minister and myself to hold a meeting here in Nara,” he said.
He added, “If the prime minister and I can firmly join hands, and the people of Japan and South Korea can firmly combine their strengths, we can walk together toward a new future.”
The summit, the second between the two, was arranged after Lee proposed a visit to Nara during their first meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, last October.
They are scheduled to visit Horyuji temple on Jan. 14.
Takaichi hopes to demonstrate to both domestic and international audiences that Japan-South Korea relations are developing in a stable, future-oriented manner at a time when Japan-China ties have unraveled over her remarks on a Taiwan contingency.
The talks also come as the United States focuses on its interests in the Western Hemisphere and Japan wants to reaffirm the trilateral security cooperation with Washington and Seoul.
Takaichi is considering dissolving the Lower House when the ordinary Diet session convenes on Jan. 23, which would result in a snap election in February, according to multiple sources.
Her side is believed to think that a successful Japan-South Korea summit could be used as a positive factor in the ruling coalition’s election campaign.
AloJapan.com