South Korea-Japan Summit Achieves Progress on Historical Issues and North Korea Policy Coordination... Divergence Remains on Trilateral Cooperation with China-Japan-Korea

Confirmation of the Remains of "Josei Coal Mine" Victims
Lee Emphasizes "Communication and Cooperation Among South Korea, China, and Japan"…Takaichi Makes No Mention
Coordination Confirmed on Complete Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula…Takaich

President Lee Jaemyung, who is visiting Nara Prefecture in Japan to continue shuttle diplomacy between South Korea and Japan, met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for 88 minutes and agreed to hold concrete working-level consultations to confirm the remains of victims from the Josei (Korean) coal mine. In addition, President Lee emphasized the need for communication and cooperation among South Korea, China, and Japan, especially as China-Japan relations continue to deteriorate due to export bans on rare earth elements and other measures. He also agreed to maintain close cooperation on North Korea policy. In contrast, Prime Minister Takaichi stressed the need to strengthen South Korea-Japan and South Korea-US-Japan cooperation for peace and stability in the region, including the complete denuclearization of North Korea, but refrained from making direct comments on relations with China.

Yonhap News Agency

After the summit held in Nara Prefecture on January 13, President Lee stated in a joint press announcement, "Both countries will proceed with DNA analysis to identify the remains from the Josei coal mine accident, and specific details will be discussed in working-level consultations between the relevant authorities." He added, "I find it meaningful that this summit has led to small but significant progress on historical issues." Prime Minister Takaichi also responded to the agreement by saying, "We welcome the coordination between South Korea and Japan." The Josei coal mine is an undersea mine where over 130 Korean laborers were forcibly conscripted during the Pacific War, and in 1942, the mine collapsed, submerging 183 Koreans and Japanese, including Japanese nationals. It was only in August last year, more than 80 years later, that remains were discovered for the first time.

While both leaders agreed to maintain close cooperation on North Korea policy, a difference in stance between South Korea and Japan was evident regarding relations with China. President Lee said in the press announcement that he emphasized to Prime Minister Takaichi the need for the three Northeast Asian countries-South Korea, China, and Japan-to find as much common ground as possible and to communicate and cooperate together. In response, Prime Minister Takaichi said, "We will pursue strategic cooperation to secure mutual interests in the field of economic security and will continue discussions among the relevant ministries," adding only that "I had an in-depth discussion with President Lee on supply chain cooperation." By avoiding direct mention of the worsening China-Japan relations due to China's export bans on rare earth elements, Prime Minister Takaichi appeared to be requesting strengthened supply chain cooperation between South Korea and Japan. Additionally, during the summit, Prime Minister Takaichi expressed gratitude for President Lee's strong support in immediately resolving the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, whereas President Lee's statement did not include this matter.

Strengthening Cooperation on Economic Security and AI, Joint Response to Scam Crimes... Proposal to Expand People-to-People Exchanges

Yonhap News Agency

The two countries agreed to further strengthen cooperation and coordination in the economic sector and in responding to transnational crimes, building on the foundation of shuttle diplomacy established so far. President Lee stated, "We agreed on the need for comprehensive cooperation to jointly establish economic security, science and technology, and international norms, going beyond trade-centered collaboration," and announced that discussions among the relevant authorities would be initiated for this purpose. In particular, President Lee added, "We will also continue working-level consultations to deepen cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and intellectual property protection."

In the social sector, President Lee evaluated the discussions held by the "South Korea-Japan Joint Social Issues Council," launched last year, on topics such as low birth rates, aging populations, balanced national development, agriculture and disaster prevention, and suicide prevention. He said, "Let us produce concrete results to address common challenges such as regional development." Regarding responses to transnational crimes such as scam crimes, he explained, "Japan has agreed to participate in the international cooperation council launched under the leadership of our National Police Agency, and we will also adopt an agreement to provide institutional support for this cooperation."

President Lee also proposed expanding people-to-people exchanges. He stated, "In this era of 12 million people-to-people exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding among future generations is the foundation of a future-oriented South Korea-Japan relationship." He proposed measures such as simplifying immigration procedures, encouraging school trips, and "expanding the current mutual recognition of technical qualifications, which is limited to the information technology (IT) sector, to other fields."

This summit between South Korea and Japan was the fifth since President Lee's inauguration and the second since former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned and Prime Minister Takaichi took office. The summit lasted a total of 88 minutes, including a 20-minute small-group meeting and a 68-minute expanded meeting. After completing the small-group and expanded meetings and the joint press announcement, the two leaders also held a one-on-one conversation and had dinner together. On the morning of January 14, President Lee and Prime Minister Takaichi will visit Horyuji Temple, a representative cultural heritage site in Nara Prefecture, and then President Lee will hold a meeting with Koreans living in the Kansai region, including Osaka, before returning to South Korea.