Busan: President Lee Jae Myung will hold summit talks with outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the southeastern city of Busan next week, the presidential office said Friday. The summit will take place next Tuesday as part of Ishiba's two-day trip to South Korea through Wednesday, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the summit aims to solidify the foundations for future-oriented cooperation between South Korea and Japan. Ishiba's visit aligns with the resumption of "shuttle diplomacy" between the two countries last month. President Lee, who previously met with Ishiba in Tokyo, proposed holding the next talks in a South Korean city outside of Seoul.
The two leaders are expected to discuss strengthening coordination between South Korea, the United States, and Japan for regional peace and security, as well as their joint interests. This visit marks Ishiba's first trip to South Korea since he assumed office in October last year and the first time in 21 years that a Japanese prime minister will visit a South Korean city other than Seoul.
Next week's trip is anticipated to be Ishiba's final visit to South Korea as prime minister, following his recent announcement of intent to resign.