Japanese Prime Minister Kono to Visit South Korea for Shuttle Diplomacy

South Korea's Blue House announced on May 15 that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit Andong, South Korea, from May 19 to 20 at the invitation of President Lee Jae-myung.

In a written briefing, Chief Spokesperson Kang Yoo-cheong explained that Takaichi's visit comes about four months after President Lee's trip to Japan in January, marking the first reciprocal hometown visit between the leaders of the two nations.

On the first day of the visit, May 19, the two leaders will hold both small and expanded summit meetings, a joint press conference, and a dinner, along with additional informal engagements.

During the summit, they will discuss the future direction of South Korea-Japan relations and seek to enhance practical cooperation in various areas directly affecting citizens, including the economy, society, and public safety. They will also address regional and global issues, including the situation in the Middle East.

Kang expressed hope that the shuttle diplomacy between Prime Minister Takaichi and President Lee, expanding from Gyeongju to Andong and other regional cities, will deepen the strong ties and trust between the two leaders and solidify the foundation for a forward-looking development of South Korea-Japan relations.