"Japanese Government Coordinates to Avoid Japan-South Korea Summit During NATO Meeting"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyeon-jin] The Japanese government is reportedly coordinating not to hold a South Korea-Japan summit during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit scheduled for June 28-29, according to the Sankei Shimbun on the 15th, citing multiple Japanese government officials.

According to the report, the Japanese government judged that conditions for a summit were not met because South Korea has not proposed solutions to lawsuits regarding compensation for forced labor during the Japanese colonial period and has conducted maritime surveys around Dokdo.

Regarding this, a person close to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio reportedly told Sankei, "South Korea has a history of not keeping promises until now, and Japan will not take proactive steps."

Accordingly, while there is a possibility that President Yoon Seok-yeol and Prime Minister Kishida may briefly meet or greet at the NATO summit, Sankei added that Japan plans not to prepare for a summit unless South Korea proposes solutions to the lawsuit issues.

President Yoon is scheduled to attend the NATO summit in Madrid, Spain, as the first South Korean president to do so. Prime Minister Kishida is also strongly considering attending the same summit, raising the possibility of a South Korea-Japan summit being held for the first time in two and a half years.