Japanese Government: Korea-U.S. Summit Was "Meaningful for Regional Peace and Stability"

Japan Emphasizes Significance of Korea-U.S. Summit
Highlights Trilateral Cooperation with the United States and Japan

Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, is speaking at a press conference held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo on December 14, 2023. When asked about the significance of the Korea-US summit on the 26th, Secretary Hayashi stated, "I believe it was a meaningful event for regional peace and stability." Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On August 25 (local time), the Japanese government stated on the 26th that the summit between President Lee Jaemyung and U.S. President Donald Trump, held at the White House, "was a meaningful event for regional peace and stability."

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi made this assessment during a regular press conference when asked about the significance of the Korea-U.S. summit. He said, "I understand that the summit confirmed the intention to strengthen Korea-U.S. cooperation, as well as to emphasize trilateral cooperation among Korea, the United States, and Japan."

Regarding President Trump's expressed willingness to meet with Chairman Kim Jong Un, he stated, "I will refrain from commenting in advance on dialogue between North Korea and the United States."

However, he added, "Cooperation with the United States and the international community is essential in addressing the issue of Japanese abductees and responding to North Korea. At the government level, we will continue to work closely with the U.S. government."

On this day, President Lee Jaemyung attended the summit with President Trump with the goals of stabilizing economic and trade relations, modernizing the Korea-U.S. alliance, and pioneering new areas of cooperation. President Trump discussed cooperation in the shipbuilding industry, with a focus on shipbuilding, as well as the resumption of dialogue between the leaders of North Korea and the United States.

Previously, President Lee proactively addressed the improvement of Korea-Japan relations, an issue of interest to President Trump, in preparation for the Korea-U.S. summit. After concluding the Korea-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on August 23, President Lee traveled to the United States. President Lee is the first South Korean president to meet with the Japanese prime minister before meeting with the U.S. president.

In this regard, President Lee explained, "Since President Trump places great importance on Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation, I thought it would be best to meet with Japan in advance and resolve any issues that President Trump might be concerned about before seeing him." He also mentioned that when he met with Prime Minister Ishiba in Japan, he felt that many obstacles between the two countries had been removed.

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