South Korean and Japanese Leaders Hold Fourth Meeting in Six Months

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held their fourth meeting in about six months on Tuesday in the southeastern city of Andong. The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation on supply chains and energy supplies, including crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas, according to statements released after the summit.

Lee said the countries resolved to further expand bilateral supply chain cooperation because of instability caused by the situation in the Middle East. Takaichi said the two sides agreed to consider a bilateral swap arrangement on crude oil, petroleum products and LNG while strengthening information sharing on supply and stockpiling.

The leaders also reaffirmed the importance of trilateral cooperation with the United States to ensure regional peace and stability.

Lee noted that the two countries have worked together on DNA tests for remains found at the site of a wartime coal mine collapse in Japan in 1942. He described the tests as a small but meaningful first step in cooperating on historical issues starting with humanitarian matters.

The leaders have now met four times in seven months, confirming that shuttle diplomacy between the two countries has been established.

Lee welcomed Takaichi with a hug upon her arrival and hosted a banquet dinner featuring fusion Korean cuisine prepared without red pepper powder. Takaichi proposed holding the next round of shuttle diplomacy in a regional Japanese hot spring town. Lee said the solid friendship between the countries is shining more brightly than ever amid various difficulties.