Tokyo (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Japan’s prime minister and the President of South Korea agreed on Saturday to closer security and economic relations ahead of the South Korean president’s planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in his first official visit to Tokyo since taking office in June, met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the premier’s residence in Tokyo to talk about bilateral relations between the East Asia neighbours, including closer defence
coordination with America under a trilateral agreement inscribed by their predecessors.
“As the strategic environment surrounding both our countries grows increasingly severe, the importance of our relations, as well as trilateral cooperation with the United States, continues to grow,”
Ishiba stated in a joint announcement with Lee after their engagement.
What areas will Japan and South Korea enhance cooperation in?
Both leaders agreed to restart shuttle diplomacy, enhance exchanges like working holiday programs, and strengthen cooperation in defence, economic security, artificial intelligence, and other fields. They also committed to increased coordination to address North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
Lee reaffirmed his support for strengthening ties with Japan. We
“agreed that unwavering cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is paramount in the rapidly changing international situation, and decided to create a virtuous cycle in which the development of South Korea-Japan relations leads to stronger cooperation,”
Lee stated alongside Ishiba.
In US, Lee and Trump are expected to discuss security issues, including China, North Korea, and Seoul’s financial contribution for U.S. forces in South Korea – a matter the U.S. leader has repeatedly urged them to increase. Japan and South Korea also find common ground on trade, agreeing to 15% tariffs on U.S. imports of their goods following Trump’s threat of higher duties.
When was the last meeting between Lee and Ishiba held?
Their last meeting occurred in June 2025. During a Group of Seven summit in Canada in June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. At this meeting, the two leaders began the process of renewed communication and relations between their two countries.
