Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba hosted Lee Jae Myung in Tokyo on Saturday, welcoming the South Korean president for his official visit. The meeting at the prime minister’s residence emphasized cooperation under a trilateral pact with Washington and highlighted shared security concerns facing both governments today.
Ishiba said relations between Tokyo and Seoul remain essential, stressing trilateral ties with Washington as regional threats from North Korea increase. Both leaders pledged to resume shuttle diplomacy, promote working holiday programs, and expand collaboration on defense, artificial intelligence, and economic security sectors.
They also vowed closer coordination against Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile threats, reinforcing their mutual reliance on Washington’s military presence across East Asia. Lee’s election following Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment raised concerns in Tokyo, but Ishiba aimed to secure stronger ties with Seoul.
The South Korean president previously criticized efforts at reconciliation, notably Japan’s wartime legacy, but he chose engagement over confrontation in Tokyo. Seoul expressed disappointment over Japanese officials’ shrine visits, though Lee’s summit remarks reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening bilateral and trilateral security cooperation with Japan.
Japanese officials welcomed Lee’s decision to visit Tokyo before Washington interpreted the move as prioritizing regional relations over broader diplomatic channels. Ishiba, facing domestic pressure after electoral setbacks, likely viewed the successful summit as an opportunity to consolidate his fragile political standing.
Both countries host about 80,000 American troops, dozens of warships, and hundreds of aircraft, underlining their reliance on Washington’s military umbrella. Lee emphasized the importance of a virtuous cycle in which stronger Japan-South Korea ties reinforce broader trilateral security arrangements involving the United States.
Economic cooperation also featured prominently, with both governments agreeing to maintain 15% tariffs on American goods despite trade tensions. Lee’s Tokyo visit came ahead of his scheduled summit in Washington with Donald Trump to discuss defense, China, and financing issues.
