Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba and South Korean President Lee pledged stronger ties in their final summit, balancing historical disputes with shared security and trade concerns.
Japan’s outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung vowed to deepen cooperation during what is expected to be their final summit Tuesday in Busan. The meeting came as President Trump’s trade wars and transactional diplomacy continue to push the Asian allies closer.
“I hope that (South) Korea and Japan can grow closer emotionally, economically, socioculturally, and in terms of security,” Lee said. Ishiba, who resigned after his party’s election defeat, called it “deeply meaningful” to end his tenure with talks in South Korea, stressing that “by sharing each other’s wisdom and experience, we can strengthen relations.”
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea’s denuclearization and issued a joint pledge to consult on issues such as low birth rates, rural revitalization and disaster prevention. Ishiba acknowledged lingering disputes over wartime history but urged Tokyo to show “sincerity and courage” in confronting the past.
Lee raised concerns over U.S. demands for upfront investment, while Japan finalized a $550 billion package with Washington.
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