Nara: President Lee Jae Myung underscored the importance of trilateral cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo, and Beijing during his summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, amidst mounting diplomatic tensions between Japan and China. "I emphasized the need for the three Northeast Asian countries-Korea, Japan, and China-to identify as much common ground as possible in order to communicate and cooperate," Lee stated in a joint press announcement following the summit.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the summit with Takaichi followed Lee's recent discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, highlighting the ongoing tensions between Beijing and Tokyo over Takaichi's comments on Taiwan. Lee and Takaichi acknowledged the significance of bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation among Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo to sustain regional peace and stability amid a swiftly evolving global landscape.
The two nations reiterated their dedication to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace, agreeing to continue close coordination on North Korea policy. The meeting, lasting approximately an hour and a half, also addressed historical issues related to Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule over Korea.
Both parties agreed to collaborate on efforts to recover remains from the Chosei undersea coal mine in Japan's Yamaguchi Prefecture, where a 1942 flood resulted in the death of 183 individuals, including 136 Korean forced laborers. The countries plan to conduct DNA analyses to identify the remains, discovered in August last year, and hold working-level consultations on the specific details.
Lee characterized the working-level consultations as "small but meaningful progress on historical issues." During their second summit, following their initial meeting in Gyeongju last October, the leaders discussed expanding "future-oriented cooperation" through reciprocal leader-level visits, termed "shuttle diplomacy."
Special emphasis was placed on launching working-level consultations on artificial intelligence and intellectual property rights, with Lee proposing measures such as simplifying entry procedures, encouraging school trips, and expanding mutual recognition of technical qualifications. The two sides also agreed to bolster joint responses to transnational crimes, including online scams, via a Korea-led international consultative body, and to adopt a joint document to provide an institutional framework for bilateral cooperation.
Both leaders committed to advancing bilateral cooperation amid shifting geographical dynamics. "Amid a complex and dizzying international order, I believe that cooperation between Korea and Japan is more important than ever," Lee remarked at the outset of the discussion.
Lee advocated for the two nations to move towards a better future despite the painful past stemming from Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula. He noted the growing geopolitical uncertainty and the testing of multilateralism in the international community, urging both countries to confront historical challenges while expanding cooperation based on mutual trust.
Highlighting the mutually beneficial relations built over the past 60 years since normalizing diplomatic ties, Lee expressed his desire to further develop the relationship over the next 60 years. Takaichi, expressing her commitment to promoting regional stability, voiced hope that Lee's visit would further elevate Seoul-Tokyo relations.
Lee arrived in Nara for a two-day visit as part of reciprocal leader-level visits under "shuttle diplomacy," aiming to maintain the momentum in improving relations. The leaders first engaged in summit talks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Gyeongju in late October and briefly reconvened during the Group of 20 leaders' gathering in South Africa in November.