"Final Coordination for Korea-US-Japan Summit on 29th... Korea-Japan May Hold a Meeting"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyeon-jin] Japanese foreign media reported that final coordination is underway to hold a South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit in line with the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit scheduled for May 29-30 in Madrid, Spain.

Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun reported this, stating that if the summit takes place, it will be the first in 4 years and 9 months since September 2017. The summit is being discussed to be held on the first day of the NATO summit, the 29th, and it is expected that responses to North Korea, which is strengthening its nuclear and missile development, will be discussed at this meeting.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will attend the NATO summit.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Japanese foreign media reported that the South Korea-Japan summit, which was initially considered possible, is being adjusted toward postponement. Asahi, citing a Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, introduced, "It was judged that South Korea does not have a concrete proposal regarding the forced labor issue (forced laborers during the Japanese colonial period), leading to cautious opinions about the summit," and added, "They are considering a meeting including a standing conversation between the two leaders."

Yomiuri Shimbun reported, "Although President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in May, shows enthusiasm for improving South Korea-Japan relations, the formal South Korea-Japan summit at the NATO summit is being adjusted toward postponement." Yomiuri also reported that the Japanese government is coordinating not only the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit but also a four-nation summit involving South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand on the occasion of the NATO meeting.

NATO invited the leaders of four 'Asia-Pacific partners'?South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand?to this meeting in addition to member countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.