After a summit at Lee's hometown of Andong, a historic city in southern South Korea, the two leaders shared the view that Seoul and Tokyo need to work more closely together as global supply chains and energy markets face growing uncertainty.
"We agreed to further expand cooperation on supply chains," Lee said at a joint press conference following the summit.
Lee said Takaichi also proposed cooperation with other Asian countries facing supply disruptions.
Japan has announced plans to push for "Power Asia," a program designed to provide about US$10 billion in financial support to Southeast Asian countries and others struggling to secure crude oil and petroleum products.
Lee said South Korea and Japan also agreed to strengthen cooperation in liquefied natural gas and crude oil, calling them key energy sources for both countries. "We agreed to further strengthen cooperation in LNG and crude oil," Lee said. "We also agreed to deepen information sharing and communication channels regarding crude oil supply, demand and reserves."
Both sides did not clearly say in their joint press remarks whether they would lend each other surplus crude oil in the event of a supply shortage.
Tuesday's summit came as Seoul and Tokyo have been trying to maintain momentum in improving relations through the so-called shuttle diplomacy between the neighboring countries.
Calling it his fourth summit with Takaichi since she took office in October, Lee said, "This truly shows the essence of shuttle diplomacy between South Korea and Japan."
The meeting was especially symbolic, coming just months after Lee visited Takaichi’s hometown of Nara in January.
"After visiting your hometown of Nara in January and receiving such warm hospitality, I am deeply honored and pleased to welcome you today here in Andong, where I was born and raised," Lee told Takaichi at the start of the talks.
Lee said the two countries have continued to expand cooperation in recent months, citing a bilateral supply chain partnership signed in March and a memorandum of cooperation between the two countries' police agencies aimed at strengthening joint responses to scam crimes.
"Our relations are moving forward toward the future without a day's pause," Lee said.
He also pointed to working-level talks on DNA testing related to victims of the Chosei coal mine and a consultative body on shared social issues as examples of new areas of cooperation.
Lee said the worsening international environment has made cooperation among friendly countries more urgent. "The international situation is now in the midst of a storm," Lee said. "Cooperation and communication among friendly countries are needed more than ever."
He said South Korea and Japan had both joined international efforts related to the Strait of Hormuz including initiatives led by France and the U.K., to help ensure maritime safety and freedom of navigation. He also said the two countries helped each other secure seats on flights for citizens stranded in the Middle East.
On regional security, Lee said he and Takaichi reaffirmed the importance of South Korea-U.S. cooperation and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan.
Lee also said he emphasized the need for South Korea, Japan and China to respect one another, cooperate and seek common interests to promote regional peace and stability.
On North Korea, Lee said he explained his government's goal of building "a peaceful Korean Peninsula where there is no need to fight," allowing the two Koreas to coexist peacefully and grow together.
The wording contrasted with Lee's remarks after his January summit with Takaichi in Nara, when he said the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and lasting peace. Lee's statement Tuesday did not include the phrase "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
Takaichi thanked Lee and South Korea for the welcome and said she was pleased to continue shuttle diplomacy in Andong. "I am very pleased that we are able to practice shuttle diplomacy here in Andong, President Lee's hometown," Takaichi said.
She said the international community is facing "an extremely difficult time" including the situation in the Middle East, and called for South Korea and Japan to play a greater role in regional stability.
"Through the leadership of President Lee and myself, it is very important to steadily develop the positive momentum in Japan-South Korea relations," Takaichi said. "It is also important for our two countries to play a central role in stabilizing the Indo-Pacific region."
Takaichi said she hoped to have a candid exchange of views "for the interests of both sides and for peace and stability in the region and the international community."
South Korean officials attending the talks included Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, national security adviser Wi Sung-lac, policy chief Kim Yong-beom and presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik. The Japanese side included Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki, National Security Secretariat Secretary General Keiichi Ichikawa and Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima.
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