Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung have agreed to develop stable and future-oriented relations between their two countries, public broadcaster NHK reported Sunday. At their summit in Tokyo on Saturday, Ishiba and Lee confirmed that their countries, together with the US, will work closely to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea. The two leaders also agreed to establish a framework for consultation to find solutions to common social and economic issues such as declining birthrates and anti-disaster measures.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Ishiba stated that the two countries agreed to steadily improve relations based on the positive foundation which has been built since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1965. Lee emphasized that South Korea and Japan are neighboring countries and that they are inseparable partners who should cooperate closely for peace and prosperity.
Additionally, Ishiba referred to import restrictions imposed by South Korea on some Japanese marine products and conveyed his intention to communicate with Seoul based on scientific grounds. On Sunday, President Lee also met former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who chairs the Japan-South Korea Parliamentary Friendship League, and agreed to enhance bilateral exchanges in various fields including economy and culture. This was President Lee's first visit to Japan since taking office in June.
The discussion also touched on regional security, and the two sides shared views on the increasingly uncertain security environment in Northeast Asia and affirmed the importance of strengthening trilateral cooperation between Japan, South Korea, and the US.