Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is expected to visit South Korea at the end of September for his final summit with President Lee Jae Myung before leaving office, Seoul officials said.
Talks are underway with Tokyo to finalize the schedule, with Japanese media reporting that Ishiba will arrive Sept. 30 for a two-day trip and meet Lee in Busan, a Korean government official said.
The location outside Seoul is seen as Ishba’s nod to Lee, who suggested in August that future meetings be held outside the capital.
The meeting would be the fourth between the two leaders since June, underscoring the rapid improvement in ties between the two countries and cementing the return of shuttle diplomacy, analysts say.
They first met on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada, then again in Tokyo in August. Shortly after Lee’s inauguration in early June, the two also spoke by phone and agreed to coordinate closely with Washington on regional security.
At their August summit, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to regular reciprocal visits while keeping historical grievances in the background.
Instead, they emphasized cooperation on supply chains, technology and deterring North Korea’s nuclear program.
Ishiba, who announced he would step down at the end of September, has told aides he was determined to make one last visit to South Korea before leaving office.
Analysts say the visit is intended to reinforce the recent revival in bilateral engagement and signal to Ishiba’s successor the need to sustain momentum after years of friction over wartime history and trade disputes between the two neighboring countries.
By Sookyung Seo
skseo@hankyung.com
Jennifer Nicholson-Breen edited this article.
