30-Minute South Korea-Japan Summit Confirmed in Strict Secrecy... 'Consensus on the Need for Relationship Improvement'

CTBT Event Venue Hosting 'Kishida Attendance'... First Korea-Japan Summit in 2 Years and 9 Months

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Korea-Japan summit between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was held on the afternoon of the 21st (local time) in New York, USA, after various twists and turns. This bilateral summit between the two leaders took place for the first time in 2 years and 9 months since 2019 and was conducted as an informal meeting lasting about 30 minutes.

Initially, the Presidential Office announced on the 15th during a briefing that the Korea-Japan summit was "agreed upon willingly." However, Japanese media reports followed, revealing Japan's displeasure over South Korea unilaterally announcing the summit, which caused the atmosphere to cool down. Subsequently, the Presidential Office refrained from commenting on whether the summit would take place, stating "No comment from now on."

Reflecting this atmosphere, the meeting itself was kept under tight security until just before it began, making it difficult to predict whether it would actually happen. Normally, the schedules for bilateral summits are announced to the media in advance, and a joint press pool is formed, but even in a briefing about four hours before the meeting, the Presidential Office did not officially disclose whether the summit would occur. As a result, only exclusive photographers from both sides were allowed in, without a press pool.

At the Korea-Germany summit held earlier that afternoon on the first floor of the Permanent Mission to the UN, the atmosphere was different, with prior media announcements and a press pool formed.

The Presidential Office sent a press release around 12:25 PM, two minutes after the Korea-Japan summit began, stating, "The Korea-Japan summit is starting now." Deputy Spokesperson Lee Jae-myung of the Presidential Office conveyed through a written briefing that the summit, which lasted about 30 minutes, took place in a conference building near the UN General Assembly hall.

The building is where the event "Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)" attended by Prime Minister Kishida was held, and the face-to-face meeting was arranged by President Yoon visiting this location. The building is an 11-minute walk from the hotel where President Yoon is staying and about a 6-minute walk from the hotel where Prime Minister Kishida is staying. After the meeting, Prime Minister Kishida walked back to his accommodation.

The moment President Yoon entered the building for the meeting was captured by Japanese reporters waiting to cover Prime Minister Kishida.

According to the footage, President Yoon wore a sky-blue tie, which he usually wears for important political events such as his inauguration and National Assembly policy speeches, and entered the building surrounded by security personnel.

A Presidential Office official explained during the briefing, "There was a CTBT-related meeting in that building. Prime Minister Kishida attended it, so Japanese reporters were covering it. President Yoon’s visit there exposed him to some Japanese media."

When asked by reporters whether "President Yoon went to where Prime Minister Kishida was to meet him," the official replied, "During the UN General Assembly period in New York, many leaders are attending various events, so suitable venues are limited. This was one of the locations chosen where both Prime Minister Kishida and President Yoon could attend."

He added, "Prime Minister Kishida was participating in an event held in that building. It cannot be said that President Yoon visited the place where Prime Minister Kishida was."

Since the method and location of the summit meeting carry significant meaning, it appears there was an intention to prevent the impression that President Yoon personally sought out Prime Minister Kishida.

Regarding some Japanese media reports that the meeting venue was the "Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN," the official denied this, saying, "(The meeting venue) had a different name." The format of the meeting that day was an informal meeting, contrary to initial expectations of a formal summit.

A Presidential Office official explained, "An informal meeting does not involve discussing specific agendas in detail. That is why we use the term informal meeting."