Japanese Prime Minister Likely to Attend UN Climate Change Summit... Focus on Possible Dialogue with Moon

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida explained the details of his phone call to President Moon Jae-in to reporters in the residence lobby after their first phone conversation on the 15th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is reportedly considering attending the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) summit next month in the United Kingdom, according to Japanese media on the 24th.

Local media such as Jiji Press and NHK, citing government officials, reported that Prime Minister Kishida is reviewing the possibility of directly attending the COP26 summit, which will be held in Glasgow, UK, on November 1-2. If he attends in person, it will be his first face-to-face diplomacy on the international stage since taking office.

Prime Minister Kishida previously stated at a press conference that he understands the importance of this meeting and is aware that an online meeting would be difficult. It is also interpreted that a political judgment was made based on the need to send a message to the international community that Japan is actively responding to climate change.

NHK reported that if Prime Minister Kishida visits the UK, arrangements are also being made for individual meetings with other heads of state attending the summit. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is planning a European tour from the end of this month to early next month, will also attend the COP26 summit, drawing attention to whether this meeting will provide an opportunity for dialogue between the leaders of Japan and South Korea.

President Moon and Prime Minister Kishida had their first phone call on the 15th, which also served as a courtesy call after their inaugurations. During the call, they failed to narrow differences on contentious issues between Korea and Japan, such as forced labor during the Japanese colonial period and the mobilization of comfort women by the Japanese military. Local media expect that attendance will be decided based on the results of the House of Representatives election scheduled for the 31st.