Presidential Office: "Japanese Prime Minister Kishida intends to visit Korea next month... No decision made yet"

Yoon "Willing to Meet Anytime as Part of Shuttle Diplomacy"

President Yoon Suk-yeol, attending the 75th anniversary summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is taking a commemorative photo with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Japan-Korea summit held on the 10th (local time) at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington DC, USA.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office stated on the 20th that there is "no decision yet" regarding foreign media reports that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering visiting South Korea in early next month to hold a summit with President Yoon Suk-yeol.

A senior official from the Presidential Office said on the same day, "Even before Prime Minister Kishida decided not to run in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, the Japanese side had expressed Kishida's intention to visit South Korea, and discussions continued after the announcement of his non-candidacy."

The official added, "President Yoon is willing to meet Prime Minister Kishida anytime as part of shuttle diplomacy between Korea and Japan," and said, "We will announce any confirmed matters."

Kyodo News reported on the same day, citing diplomatic sources, that Prime Minister Kishida is considering visiting South Korea in early next month. It is reported that Kishida hopes to meet President Yoon before his resignation to review the process of improving Korea-Japan relations and to continue cooperation.

Prime Minister Kishida has decided not to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership election scheduled for the 27th of next month, and will step down from his position as prime minister after the election.