Seoul – During their final summit in Seoul, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged to maintain the “positive momentum” in bilateral relations, focusing on overcoming historical disputes and strengthening security ties in light of North Korea’s growing threats and its military collaboration with Russia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the strategic partnership between South Korea, Japan, and the United States. President Yoon emphasized the significance of continuing the cooperative trajectory initiated with Prime Minister Kishida, particularly as both nations face complex security challenges in the region. “It is important to maintain the positive momentum of bilateral cooperation that Prime Minister Kishida and I have built to advance bilateral cooperation, as well as cooperation between Korea, the U.S., and Japan,” Yoon remarked during his opening speech.
This summit marked their 12th meeting and Kishida’s last international engagement as Prime Minister, as he has decided not to seek re-election. The discussions also covered the upcoming 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries, with Yoon suggesting that this milestone could serve as a turning point to elevate their relationship to new heights.
Further, the leaders discussed implementing more streamlined travel procedures between their countries and enhancing emergency cooperation. A memorandum of understanding was signed, establishing a framework for joint evacuation of citizens from third countries in crises and improving information sharing on security matters.
The summit also saw a reaffirmation of the commitments made at the Camp David summit last year, where President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida, alongside U.S. President Joe Biden, pledged to support peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula based on liberal democratic values. Kishida expressed his support for Yoon’s new unification doctrine, emphasizing the shared goal of a free and peaceful reunification.
The leaders’ dialogue reflects a concerted effort to address both past historical tensions and present security concerns, thereby setting a collaborative path forward despite the impending leadership transition in Japan.