Takaichi, Lee Agree to Promote Future-Oriented Japan-S. Korea Ties
Gyeongju, South Korea, Oct. 30 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at their first meeting Thursday agreed to advance bilateral relations in a future-oriented and stable manner.
Takaichi, who took office last week, and Lee confirmed the importance of the three-way partnership among Japan, South Korea and the United States to deal with North Korea, which is expanding military cooperation with Russia. They also agreed to continue "shuttle diplomacy" between Japan and South Korea, or reciprocal visits by their leaders.
The meeting in the southeastern South Korean city of Gyeongju lasted about 40 minutes, longer than the scheduled 20 minutes.
"It's beneficial for both countries to develop their ties in a future-oriented and stable manner, based on the foundation that has been built up to date," Takaichi said at the meeting. Lee responded that they will be able to resolve both domestic and international issues by sharing their experiences and working together.
"I want to communicate well (with Lee) by using shuttle diplomacy," Takaichi said.
The South Korean president said that he wants to hold the next meeting with Takaichi at a regional area in Japan instead of Tokyo, after former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba visited the southern South Korean city of Busan late last month. Takaichi said she will consider it favorably.
Takaichi underlined the importance of collaboration among Japan, South Korea and the United States for the complete denuclearization of North Korea and of resolving the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese citizens decades ago.
According to the South Korean presidential office, the two did not talk about historical recognition.
"There are various pending issues over which we have different positions because we are neighbors, but we will manage them through our leadership," Takaichi told reporters after the meeting.
In the past, the Japan-South Korea relations were said to be at the worst point since the two countries achieved diplomatic normalization in 1965.
But the bilateral ties started to dramatically turn for the better following the inauguration of Lee's predecessor, Yoon Suk-yeol, in 2022, and remains on an improving trend after Lee took office in June this year.
There are concerns that the inauguration of Takaichi, known as a hawkish politician, may affect Japan-South Korea relations.
Apparently in response to such concerns, Takaichi skipped a visit to war-related Yasukuni Shrine during its autumn festival earlier this month, before her inauguration as prime minister.
Yasukuni Shrine is regarded as a symbol of Japan's past militarism by countries including China and South Korea, which suffered at the hands of Japanese wartime atrocities, because the Shinto shrine in Tokyo honors Class-A war criminals among the war dead.
Previously, Takaichi visited the shrine on occasions such as its spring and autumn festivals and the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, including when she was in ministerial posts.
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