<기사제목>Presidential Office: "Prime Minister Kishida to Visit Korea on 7-8th"... Shuttle Diplomacy in Full Swing (Update)</기사제목>

by Bae Kyunghwan

Published 02 May.2023 15:20(KST)

12 Years Since Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko's Visit to Korea in 2011

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit South Korea on the 7th and 8th.

The Presidential Office announced on the 2nd, "Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to make a working visit to South Korea for one night and two days on the 7th and 8th."

President Yoon invited Prime Minister Kishida to visit Seoul during his trip to Japan last March, and the Presidential Office explained that the shuttle diplomacy between the two leaders will be fully activated through this visit. Prime Minister Kishida's visit to South Korea is the first bilateral visit by a Japanese prime minister in 12 years since Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's visit to Seoul in October 2011. Mrs. Yuko Kishida is also expected to accompany him on this visit.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Prime Minister Kishida mentioned to the press on the previous day, "We are coordinating to visit South Korea on the 7th and 8th." He expressed hope that if the visit takes place, it will be "a good opportunity to accelerate Korea-Japan relations based on deep trust between the leaders and to openly exchange views on the rapidly changing international situation." Local media reported that he also showed enthusiasm to further promote the 'shuttle diplomacy' of mutual visits between the leaders following President Yoon's visit to Japan in March.