Tokyo: The first full summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has bolstered three-way security cooperation with the United States, according to President Lee's top security adviser. This development comes ahead of critical summit talks between President Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Yonhap News Agency, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac informed reporters that the Saturday summit with Prime Minister Ishiba also marked the early revival of "shuttle diplomacy" between Seoul and Tokyo, setting the stage for enhanced bilateral relations. Wi emphasized the significance of the summit in fortifying Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation during a press briefing in Tokyo.
Wi further elaborated that both leaders acknowledged the importance of bilateral and trilateral collaboration in maintaining regional peace and stability, discussing methods to enhance three-way coordination. Additionally, they committed to allocating "considerable time" to trade negotiations with the U.S., given their shared interests as major exporters facing pressure from Washington to increase defense spending and contribute more to the cost of stationing American troops. The auto and semiconductor sectors in both countries also remain susceptible to U.S. tariff hikes.
Wi highlighted the alignment between Seoul and Washington, noting that the synergy among Washington's key Asian allies has been a priority for the U.S. administration and is expected to positively impact broader trilateral cooperation. He remarked on the positive trajectory of cooperation between the two countries despite unresolved historical issues.
When asked if Ishiba offered advice to Lee before his meeting with Trump, Wi stated that the leaders "exchanged views and shared experiences on current issues," leaving it to Lee to decide how to benefit from another leader's experience. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of transforming shared advice into practical outcomes, rather than focusing solely on the specific circumstances of each country.