Seoul: President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have agreed to address geopolitical crises through trilateral cooperation with the United States, as discussed in their inaugural phone conversation on Monday, according to the presidential office.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during the 25-minute call, Lee and Ishiba reiterated the significance of the bilateral relationship between South Korea and Japan, expressing a mutual desire to meet face-to-face soon, as conveyed by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. "Lee expressed hope that the two countries would work together to explore mutually beneficial approaches to addressing future challenges from the perspective of their shared national interests," Kang stated.
The leaders, embracing a pragmatic diplomatic approach, acknowledged the necessity of fostering a robust and mature bilateral relationship grounded in mutual respect, trust, and responsibility. In recognition of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two nations, both leaders agreed to promote exchanges between their citizens and enhance communication between their governments.
A potential opportunity for their first in-person meeting could arise at the Group of Seven summit in Canada, slated for June 15-17, where Lee has been invited as a guest.
Since assuming office, Lee has emphasized the importance of a consistent policy in relations with Japan, indicating his commitment to maintaining the previous administration's stance on the sensitive issue of wartime forced labor, which has contributed to alleviating tensions between Seoul and Tokyo.
This marks Lee's second conversation with a foreign leader, following his prior discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump. Additionally, Lee's office is coordinating a forthcoming phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.