In a significant diplomatic move, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met in Seoul on Friday and agreed to maintain the “positive momentum” in their bilateral relations. The leaders emphasized their commitment to strengthening cooperation between their nations and with the United States, particularly in the context of rising security concerns related to North Korea’s military ties with Russia.
During their summit, both Yoon and Kishida highlighted the importance of advancing their bilateral cooperation and maintaining a united front in addressing North Korea’s escalating military activities. Yoon underscored the necessity of sustaining the progress made in their diplomatic relationship and expanding their cooperation to include trilateral engagement with the US.
“It is important to maintain the positive momentum of bilateral cooperation that Prime Minister Kishida and I have built,” Yoon stated in his opening remarks. He advocated for a “forward-looking attitude” to tackle ongoing historical issues that have long strained relations between the two countries.
This summit marked the 12th and final meeting between Yoon and Kishida, as Kishida will not seek reelection as prime minister or leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after three years in office. Despite this leadership change, both leaders reiterated their commitment to advancing the relationship between South Korea and Japan.
Kishida reiterated his government’s adherence to past agreements, including the 1998 Korea-Japan Joint Declaration. This declaration, made by former President Kim Dae-jung and former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, included acknowledgments of the historical suffering caused by Japan’s colonial rule. Kishida expressed his sincere remorse for the hardships endured, though he did not provide specific details.
Kishida also expressed support for President Yoon’s new unification doctrine, which aims for peaceful reunification with North Korea based on liberal values. This stance aligns with the goals expressed during the Camp David summit last year, where the leaders of South Korea, Japan, and the US reaffirmed their support for a free and peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
“I understand that President Yoon’s doctrine also reflects interest in this goal,” Kishida noted, underscoring the alignment between their strategic objectives regarding North Korea.
As the two leaders conclude their final summit, the focus will shift to maintaining and building upon the achievements of their diplomatic efforts. The commitment to overcoming historical disputes while addressing contemporary security challenges reflects a pragmatic approach to enhancing bilateral ties and regional stability.
With Kishida’s departure from the political stage, the future of Japan-South Korea relations will depend on the incoming leadership in Japan and continued collaboration on shared security concerns and historical reconciliation.