Presidential Office: "Consulting with Japan Regarding Prime Minister Kishida's Visit to Korea"

"Will be announced once decided"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Korea-Japan summit held at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul on May 26. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office stated on the 25th that it is "in consultation with Japan" regarding reports that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit South Korea in early next month to hold a summit meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol.

A Presidential Office official explained on the same day, "We will announce it once a decision is made."

Earlier, Kyodo News and others reported, citing diplomatic sources, that Prime Minister Kishida is considering visiting South Korea in early next month to hold a summit meeting with President Yoon.

The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan will hold its presidential election on the 27th of next month, and Prime Minister Kishida has decided not to run. It is known that Prime Minister Kishida wants to meet President Yoon before stepping down to confirm the achievements made so far, including the strengthening of security cooperation between the two countries.

President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida have been working to improve Korea-Japan relations. Last year, President Yoon visited Japan, becoming the first Korean president in 12 years to do so, and held a Korea-Japan summit. If Prime Minister Kishida's visit to South Korea materializes this time, it will be the 12th summit meeting since President Yoon took office.

Last week, the Presidential Office said regarding Prime Minister Kishida's visit that "nothing has been decided yet," but on this day, it expressed a more advanced stance, saying it is "in consultation."