Lee and Takaichi’s first summit highlights shared strategy to sustain trilateral coordination and bilateral stability

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held their first bilateral summit Thursday in Gyeongju, agreeing to deepen cooperation and continue shuttle diplomacy. The meeting came just nine days after Takaichi took office and marked the first official encounter between the two leaders. Lee proposed that the next meeting take place in a regional Japanese city rather than Tokyo, and both sides described the talks as cordial and forward-looking.

Lee said South Korea and Japan, “neighbors who share many similarities,” must strengthen future-oriented cooperation amid global uncertainty, while Takaichi called the two nations “important neighbors” and highlighted the growing importance of U.S.-ROK-Japan coordination under the current strategic environment. Neither leader made reference to comfort women, wartime labor, territorial claims or other sensitive issues, instead emphasizing collaboration in economic, social and security fields.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held their first bilateral summit Thursday in Gyeongju, agreeing to deepen cooperation and continue shuttle diplomacy. The meeting came just nine days after Takaichi took office and marked the first official encounter between the two leaders. Lee proposed that the next meeting take place in a regional Japanese city rather than Tokyo, and both sides described the talks as cordial and forward-looking.

Lee said South Korea and Japan, “neighbors who share many similarities,” must strengthen future-oriented cooperation amid global uncertainty, while Takaichi called the two nations “important neighbors” and highlighted the growing importance of U.S.-ROK-Japan coordination under the current strategic environment. Neither leader made reference to comfort women, wartime labor, territorial claims or other sensitive issues, instead emphasizing collaboration in economic, social and security fields.

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