S. Korea’s Leader Holds “Extensive” Discussions with Japan’s Ishiba

(MENAFN) South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday in the southeastern port city of Busan, the presidential office confirmed.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung briefed the press, stating the two leaders engaged in “extensive and in depth” discussions focused on enhancing tangible cooperation between South Korea and Japan, as well as the necessity for joint efforts on regional and global challenges.

The summit marked the conclusion of a recent shuttle diplomacy effort, with Ishiba’s visit to Busan coming roughly a month after Lee’s late-August trip to Japan.

Both leaders underscored the critical importance of their bilateral relationship, agreeing to maintain ongoing communication and collaboration under the renewed framework of shuttle diplomacy.

They also welcomed the establishment of a consultative body aimed at addressing shared social issues and agreed to restart the bilateral science and technology cooperation committee meetings.

The discussions included a positive assessment of several high-level bilateral meetings held in September, such as those between defense ministers, economic security dialogues, and vice finance ministers.

Highlighting the dialogue’s forward-looking spirit, Lee emphasized his principle of “moving toward the future while squarely facing the past,” adding, “if the two sides accumulate the meaningful outcomes of cooperation, a virtuous cycle can be created that positively works in dialogue on pending issues between the two countries.”

MENAFN01102025000045017169ID1110134077