Kishida Japanese Prime Minister Arrives in Korea... Starts 2-Day Schedule Including Summit Meeting

Starting with the National Cemetery, Summit Talks Including Small Group and Expanded Meetings

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 7th. Prime Minister Kishida will begin his visit to Korea with a tribute at the National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. In the afternoon, he will be welcomed by President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul.

This is the first visit by a Japanese prime minister to the National Cemetery in 12 years since Prime Minister Noda in 2011. Following this, Prime Minister Kishida will move to Yongsan to start the official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Office, followed by a small-scale meeting attended only by President Yoon and a few aides, an expanded meeting, and then a joint press conference.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Mrs. Yuko Kishida, who visited Korea for the Korea-Japan summit, are arriving at Seongnam Seoul Airport on the 7th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, President Yoon invited Prime Minister Kishida to visit Seoul during his trip to Japan in March. With Kishida’s visit to Korea, shuttle diplomacy between the two leaders is being activated, and Mrs. Yuko Kishida accompanied him on this visit. Prior to his visit, Prime Minister Kishida expressed his expectations, saying, "It will be a good opportunity to accelerate Korea-Japan relations based on a deep trust between the leaders and to openly exchange views on the rapidly changing international situation." The two leaders have already focused discussions on export controls, restoration of the whitelist, and normalization of the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).

On the morning of his departure day, at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Tokyo, Prime Minister Kishida responded to local reporters’ questions about the Korea-Japan summit, stating, "I will exchange honest opinions based on a relationship of trust." He also emphasized the resumption of dialogue between the two governments in various fields including defense and economy, mentioning, "We will further develop this momentum."