Lima: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed strong concerns over the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, agreeing to continue their "shuttle diplomacy" during talks in Peru, as reported by Yoon's office. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, amidst increasing concerns about North Korea's troop deployment to Russia in support of Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine. According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon and Ishiba held their second in-person summit within a month, emphasizing the need for close collaboration to ensure a unified international response to North Korea. Both leaders agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship next year as they mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between their nations. They decided to maintain shuttle diplomacy without being restricted by its format. During the 50-minute talks, Yoon highlighted the significance of clo se coordination to address security challenges, particularly given the recent regional and global developments. He noted that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea has led to the deployment of North Korean troops, underscoring the urgency of their meeting. Ishiba echoed Yoon's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of strengthening cooperation between Japan and South Korea, considering the grave security situation surrounding both countries. The meeting followed a trilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, where the leaders condemned the military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang and reiterated their commitment to trilateral collaboration. Bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan have improved significantly since Yoon's decision to resolve the long-standing issue of Japan's wartime mobilization of Koreans for forced labor, opting to compensate victims without seeking contributions from Japanese firms. Yoon and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had previously res tored the long-suspended shuttle diplomacy, holding 12 summits over the past two years as a sign of deepening relations.