President Moon Urges "Let's Overcome COVID Together"... Japan's Suga Praises "K-Quarantine Achievements"

First Phone Call Between Korean and Japanese Leaders
Significance of Joint Cooperation on COVID-19 Response

President Moon Jae-in is having a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga at the Blue House on the morning of the 24th.

President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga held their first telephone summit on the 24th, agreeing to cooperate in response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Blue House announced on the 24th.

Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for the Blue House, stated in a briefing that "President Moon had a 20-minute phone call with newly appointed Prime Minister Suga from 11 a.m. today, exchanging views on ways to develop Korea-Japan relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula."

President Moon congratulated Prime Minister Suga on his inauguration as the 99th Prime Minister of Japan, describing Korea and Japan as "closest friends sharing fundamental values and strategic interests, and partners who must work together for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world."

In response, Prime Minister Suga said, "Although Korea-Japan relations are currently difficult due to various issues stemming from historical matters, I hope to build future-oriented bilateral relations together with President Moon."

The two leaders especially agreed on cooperating to overcome COVID-19.

President Moon said, "Now is the time when both countries must cooperate and provide the necessary strength and comfort to their peoples to overcome COVID-19 and prepare for the post-COVID era."

Prime Minister Suga said, "Japan also regards overcoming COVID-19 as its top priority," and praised, "Under President Moon's leadership, Korea has achieved success in K-quarantine." He added, "I hope we can solve various challenges of COVID-19 together."

President Moon expressed hope that "the COVID-19 situation will stabilize quickly and that the Tokyo Olympics next year will be successfully held," to which Prime Minister Suga expressed his gratitude, according to spokesperson Kang.

This telephone conversation between the Korea-Japan leaders is the first in nine months since the call between President Moon and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in December last year.