Kyodo News reported on the 25th, citing South Korean government officials, that Prime Minister Kim Minseok is considering a visit to Japan as early as January or February next year. If realized, it would be the first visit by a South Korean prime minister to Japan in over three years.
Prime Minister Kim Minseok is attending the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 25th, delivering opening remarks. 2025.11.25 Photo by Jo Yongjun
Kyodo News stated that the purpose of Prime Minister Kim's visit to Japan is to strengthen intergovernmental communication beyond the "shuttle diplomacy" between the two countries' leaders. The report added that Kim plans to seek meetings with Japanese political and business figures, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Earlier, on the 24th, Prime Minister Kim met with the Japanese delegation visiting South Korea to attend the 58th Korea-Japan Cooperation Committee Joint General Assembly and exchanged views on ways to develop Korea-Japan relations. It is also reported that he expressed his intention to visit Japan during this meeting.
If realized, this would mark the first visit to Japan by a South Korean prime minister since then-Prime Minister Han Ducksoo attended the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the government representative in September 2022, more than three years ago.
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