Tokyo: President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Tokyo for summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as he seeks to expand cooperation with Tokyo while squarely facing up to the history of the past. The summit with Ishiba precedes Lee's planned visit to Washington for critical discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. This visit marks a rare diplomatic choice, as South Korean presidents typically prioritize Washington, a key defense ally, for their initial diplomatic ventures after assuming office.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this meeting is Lee's second in-person encounter with Ishiba, following their discussion during the Group of Seven summit in Canada in June. In a joint written interview with four major Japanese newspapers, Lee expressed his desire to bolster cooperation with Japan in security and economic fields.

Lee sees his visit to Tokyo as a chance to establish a "future-oriented" relationship, as this year commemorates the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He emphasized the importance of identifying mutually beneficial elements in Korea-Japan relations, acknowledging that these relations encompass aspects of confrontation, cooperation, and mutual tolerance.

On the agenda for Sunday, Lee is set to meet with Japanese lawmakers in the morning before departing for Washington, where he will engage in a summit with President Trump the following day.