Japanese Prime Minister Takaiichi to Visit South Korea for Summit with President Lee

By Hwang Jin Hyun Posted : May 14, 2026, 14:30 Updated : May 14, 2026, 14:30
President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi pose for a commemorative photo at Horyu-ji Temple, a cultural heritage site in Nara, Japan, on January 14. [Photo=Yonhap News]
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi is scheduled to visit South Korea on May 19-20 for a summit with President Lee Jae-myung, the Japanese government reported to its parliament on May 14.
According to Japanese media, including TBS News, Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki conveyed the details of Takaiichi's visit during a meeting of the House of Representatives' Committee on Rules and Administration.
The upcoming summit is part of a "shuttle diplomacy" initiative, where the leaders of both countries visit each other's nations. President Lee and Prime Minister Takaiichi first met in person during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju last October, where they agreed to actively pursue shuttle diplomacy.
Following this, the two governments have discussed holding the next meeting in Andong, President Lee's hometown, after he visited Takaiichi's hometown in Nara Prefecture, Japan, for a summit on January 13-14.
TBS News reported that the agenda for the upcoming meeting is expected to include discussions on stable energy supply in light of the situation in Iran and the geopolitical dynamics in Northeast Asia, including North Korea.



* This article has been translated by AI.

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