South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday held his first full-fledged summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo, in a visit aimed at demonstrating improved ties between the two neighbors as they face common challenges alongside their key ally, the United States.
Lee’s choice to travel to Japan before visiting Washington — an unusual order — is seen as part of his preparation for a crucial first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, where trade and defense are expected to dominate discussions.
Japanese officials welcomed the move as a signal of Lee’s priority on Seoul-Tokyo relations, which have often been strained by historical disputes and at times disrupted trilateral cooperation with Washington.
Receiving Lee at the Prime Minister’s Office, Ishiba noted the significance of Tokyo being the first stop of the South Korean president’s overseas trip since taking office in June. He also shared photos of their meeting on social media platform X.
The two leaders initially met in a closed session before holding broader talks with expanded delegations. For Ishiba, facing pressure from rivals within his party after July’s election setback, the summit offered an opportunity to strengthen his standing.
Rintaro Nishimura, an analyst with The Asia Group’s Japan branch, said the timing reflected Lee’s “pragmatic diplomacy,” balancing bilateral and trilateral relations with Washington. He added that while tariffs are central, Lee’s decision to prioritize Tokyo underscored Japan’s importance in his foreign policy.
Though largely symbolic, Saturday’s meeting also highlighted the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization between the two nations. Possible outcomes include expedited visas for South Korean travelers and new working holiday programs.
The agenda also covered regional concerns, including North Korea’s nuclear program and China’s growing assertiveness.
Ishiba, who already reached a tariffs deal with Trump earlier this year, positioned himself to coordinate with Lee ahead of the South Korean leader’s first Washington summit.
The talks came shortly after both leaders signaled reconciliatory gestures. In his Aug. 15 Liberation Day address, Lee urged both nations to move beyond historical grievances while maintaining trust. In an interview with Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper, he said he would uphold past agreements on forced labor and wartime sexual slavery, despite lingering resentment among Koreans.
Ishiba, for his part, expressed “remorse” over Japan’s wartime aggression in his Aug. 15 address, reviving a term absent from such statements since 2013 under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
