Nara: President Lee Jae Myung departed for Japan's Nara Prefecture on Tuesday for summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with the two leaders expected to discuss bilateral ties, as well as regional and global issues, amid tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee will make a two-day visit to Nara, Takaichi's hometown, as part of reciprocal leader-level visits dubbed "shuttle diplomacy," aimed at sustaining the recent momentum in improved relations. This will be Lee's second visit to Japan following his trip last August for talks with Takaichi's predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, and his third meeting with Takaichi since she took office in October.
Lee and Takaichi first held summit talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Gyeongju in late October and briefly met again during the Group of 20 leaders' gathering in South Africa in November. The meeting comes days after Lee's state visit to China for summit talks with President Xi Jinping, at a time of heightened tensions between Beijing and Tokyo following Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan.
In an interview with Japan's NHK, Lee emphasized South Korea's strategic relations with both Japan and China while clarifying that Seoul would not engage in the tensions over Taiwan. Additionally, the agenda may include discussions on South Korea's ban on seafood imports from eight Japanese prefectures, a longstanding issue since 2013 due to radiation concerns post-Fukushima disaster.
Lee highlighted that easing these restrictions requires addressing public concerns, noting its significance on Seoul's diplomatic agenda as it seeks Tokyo's support for its bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. North Korea is also likely to be discussed, with both leaders showing interest in engaging Pyongyang and facilitating dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Historical issues are expected to be addressed as part of Lee's "two-track" approach, aiming for future-oriented cooperation while resolving unresolved wartime history issues from Japan's colonial rule of Korea. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac expressed hopes that the talks would advance efforts to recover the remains of Korean forced laborers from the Chosei undersea coal mine.
On Wednesday, Lee and Takaichi are scheduled to partake in diplomatic events, including a visit to Horyuji Temple, Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lee will also meet with members of the Korean community in Japan before returning home.