[Gyeongju APEC] "Korea-Japan Summit Being Coordinated for the 30th"...Will Shuttle Diplomacy Continue? (Comprehensive)

Asahi Reports:
"Emphasizing the Importance of Cooperation"

The governments of South Korea and Japan are coordinating to hold the first summit between President Lee Jaemyung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on October 30. With Prime Minister Takaichi assuming office, attention is focused on whether the two countries can establish a stable cooperative relationship by continuing the shuttle diplomacy framework restored during former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's tenure.

According to the Asahi Shimbun on October 28, Prime Minister Takaichi is expected to visit South Korea on October 30 to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which opens in Gyeongju on October 31, and hold a summit meeting with President Lee.

Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Previously, on October 21, President Lee expressed on Facebook, "I look forward to meeting you in person and engaging in constructive dialogue in Gyeongju, where the upcoming APEC summit will take place," following Prime Minister Takaichi's inauguration.

From October 21 to 22, National Security Office Director Wi Sunglak visited Japan and met with Keiichi Ichikawa, the new Director-General of the National Security Secretariat, as well as former Prime Ministers Taro Aso and Yoshihide Suga. Director Wi conveyed, "We intend to continue shuttle diplomacy and contribute to the development of bilateral relations," while former Prime Minister Aso, who played a 'kingmaker' role in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, responded by stating, "I will fulfill my role in Korea-Japan relations," according to the Asahi Shimbun.

Unlike his predecessor, former Prime Minister Ishiba, who held a moderate view of history, Prime Minister Takaichi, who succeeded former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is known for his hardline conservative stance. This has raised concerns in some quarters about a potential deterioration in Korea-Japan relations, particularly regarding historical issues. Before taking office, Takaichi made strong statements on historical and territorial matters and has regularly visited the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals from the Pacific War are enshrined.

However, Prime Minister Takaichi has recently shown a more conciliatory attitude toward South Korea. At his inaugural press conference on October 21, he stated, "I hope to develop Korea-Japan relations in a future-oriented and stable manner, based on the foundation built between our governments so far," expressing his desire for a summit with President Lee Jaemyung. In his first policy speech to the National Diet on October 24, he also said, "With South Korea, an important neighboring country, we will seek to strengthen relations through dialogue at the summit level."

During the autumn grand festival (Reitaisai) at Yasukuni Shrine, held from October 17 to 19, he refrained from visiting the shrine and instead only offered a ritual donation. This move is seen as taking into account diplomatic considerations, including relations with South Korea and China.

The Asahi Shimbun noted that Prime Minister Takaichi has emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan since taking office, and is expected to stress this again at the upcoming Korea-Japan summit. The paper also reported, "Amid a grave international situation, both leaders appear intent on maintaining the current momentum of improved Korea-Japan relations, drawing attention to what kind of dialogue will take place."

Meanwhile, in addition to the Korea-Japan summit on the occasion of this APEC meeting, a series of other summits, including South Korea-U.S., U.S.-China, and South Korea-China, are also scheduled. President Lee will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on October 29 and with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will be visiting South Korea for the first time in 11 years, on November 1. On October 30, the first U.S.-China summit under Trump's second administration is also scheduled to take place.

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