By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for about 100 minutes from 15:35-17:15 on Sept. 6.

During the summit, which was the 12th meeting between President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida and part of the close shuttle diplomacy between the two leaders, the two leaders reviewed the progress of bilateral relations over the past two years and discussed in-depth future direction of bilateral relations.

The two leaders noted that the two countries have been actively communicating at all levels, including reactivating suspended intergovernmental councils and launching new ones, and expanding cooperation in various fields such as economic security and high technology. 

The two leaders also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Protection of Foreign Nationals in Third Countries between the foreign affairs authorities of Japan and South Korea, which will further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in times of crisis in third countries.

The two leaders also agreed to accelerate work on identifying practical cooperation achievements in advance of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea next year, led by the 60th Anniversary Preparation Task Force. 

In particular, as bilateral people-to-people exchanges are expected to exceed 10 million this year, the highest level in history, the two leaders agreed that it is necessary to examine institutional measures to facilitate the convenience of people from both countries, such as measures to simplify immigration.

The two leaders also recognized that North Korea continues to threaten peace and stability in the region, including the Korean Peninsula, by refusing to engage in dialogue, and agreed to continue to closely communicate and resolutely deal with North Korea's ongoing provocations and the situation with Russia. 

President Yoon expressed his appreciation for the Japanese side's support for the “August 15 Unification Doctrine,” and expressed his expectation for the Japanese side's unwavering interest and support for our unification efforts.

The two leaders also agreed to continue close communication on various regional and global issues in the international arena, including the United Nations Security Council, and to work together for the successful hosting of next year's APEC Leaders' Meeting, which Korea will chair, and the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo.

The two leaders reaffirmed that the improvement in bilateral relations has led to a virtuous cycle of advancing the trilateral cooperation system and revitalizing the Japan-Korea-China process, and agreed to continue working to advance bilateral relations even after Prime Minister Kishida leaves office. 

In particular, President Yoon asked Prime Minister Kishida to play a role in ensuring that the next prime minister can continue the progress in bilateral relations, and Prime Minister Kishida responded that he would be happy to do so.