Andong: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is contemplating a mid-May visit to the southeastern city of Andong, South Korea, to engage in a summit with President Lee Jae Myung. This meeting is part of ongoing shuttle diplomacy efforts, as disclosed by diplomatic sources on Wednesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Takaichi is evaluating a two-day visit to Andong, approximately 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The proposed dates for the visit are May 19-20, aligning with President Lee's hometown. This potential trip follows a previous meeting in January when Lee visited Takaichi's hometown in Nara, where both leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations.

The leaders initially connected during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju last October, where they committed to pursuing shuttle diplomacy actively. Should the Andong visit proceed, both sides are anticipated to explore cooperation on energy security and address challenges arising from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The summit may also offer an avenue for discussing broader global developments and bilateral ties. It is set to occur shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump's planned visit to China on May 14-15 for discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Observers suggest that this sequence of international engagements could shape the dynamics of the upcoming summit.