Following the US-Japan Summit, South Korea-Japan Leaders Unite in Condemning North Korea's Nuclear and Missile Activities
[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio held a Korea-Japan summit to discuss responses to North Korea's nuclear threat and ways to normalize bilateral relations. This meeting came two months after a brief meeting in New York, USA, last September.
The two leaders held a 45-minute meeting on the afternoon of the 13th (local time) at a hotel in Phnom Penh. Before the meeting began, Prime Minister Kishida expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the Korean people regarding the Itaewon incident. President Yoon also expressed condolences for the two Japanese victims.
At the meeting, the two leaders strongly condemned North Korea's recent successive ballistic missile launches as serious and grave provocations threatening peace and security not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in Northeast Asia and the international community. Furthermore, they agreed to cooperate on UN Security Council-level responses and strengthening security cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
President Yoon explained the "Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Strategy" announced on the 11th, and Prime Minister Kishida introduced that Japan plans to announce a new "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" plan by next spring. They welcomed each other's Indo-Pacific strategies and agreed to unite in pursuing a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Additionally, the two leaders evaluated that active communication is taking place between their diplomatic authorities regarding bilateral issues and agreed to continue consultations for prompt resolution. This is interpreted as referring to the issue of compensation for forced labor, considered the biggest obstacle to restoring Korea-Japan relations.
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