Han Deok-su talks with Japan's Ishiba... "Continued Korea-US-Japan cooperation"

Second Summit Call Following US Biden

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Acting President and Prime Minister, spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and shared the view that trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan must continue in response to the North Korean nuclear threat.

According to the Prime Minister's Office on the 19th, Acting President Han explained the current domestic situation and discussed the development of Korea-Japan relations during a call with Prime Minister Ishiba around 9 a.m. that day. Acting President Han stated, "All state affairs will be conducted thoroughly in accordance with the Constitution and laws," and explained, "Our government will carry out diplomatic and security policies without any setbacks."

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is speaking with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the morning of the 19th. Photo by the Prime Minister's Office

Both sides agreed to continue cooperating to ensure that Korea-Japan relations remain stable and develop steadily in the future, and to maintain necessary communication going forward to steadily prepare for the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan next year. Furthermore, they shared the opinion that trilateral cooperation among Korea, the United States, and Japan, as well as Korea-Japan cooperation, must be closely maintained amid the North Korean nuclear threat and the deepening Russia-North Korea cooperation that both countries face.

This is the second time Acting President Han has spoken with a foreign leader since transitioning to the acting presidency, following U.S. President Joe Biden on the 15th. At that time, Acting President Han also explained that all state affairs would be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and laws, addressing concerns arising from the impeachment political situation. President Biden said, "The ironclad South Korea-U.S. alliance remains unchanged," and added, "We will work together with South Korea to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan."