South Korea-Japan Summit Achieves Working-Level Talks on Historical Issues, North Korea Policy Coordination... Surprise Drum Performance to K-Pop Demon Hunters and BTS

Korea-Japan Summit Held in Nara, Japan
88-Minute Talks Including Small-Group and Expanded Meetings
Joint Initiative for DNA Testing of Josei Coal Mine Victims' Remains
Close Coordination on Korean Peninsula Denuclearization and North Korea

During his visit to Japan, President Lee Jaemyung held a summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and announced, "The two countries have agreed to proceed with DNA testing to identify the remains of Korean and Japanese victims who died in the Josei (Chosun-jin) coal mine flooding accident, and will conduct practical discussions between the relevant authorities on the specific details." President Lee also emphasized the need for South Korea, China, and Japan to maximize common ground for communication and cooperation, while reaffirming a commitment to close coordination on North Korea policy.

Yonhap News Agency

President Lee made this announcement during a joint press briefing following his summit with Prime Minister Takaichi in Nara Prefecture, Japan, on the 13th. He added, "I believe it is meaningful that, through this summit, we have achieved small but significant progress on historical issues." This approach suggests a focus on building results on humanitarian issues that can be addressed immediately, rather than seeking a comprehensive resolution of all historical disputes at once.

The Josei coal mine was an undersea mine where over 130 Korean workers were forcibly conscripted during the Pacific War, and in 1942, the mine collapsed, resulting in the drowning of 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.

Amid worsening China-Japan relations, President Lee also highlighted the need to expand the scope of South Korea-Japan cooperation to include "South Korea-China-Japan communication." Regarding issues on the Korean Peninsula, he reaffirmed the commitment to complete denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace, and reiterated the intention to maintain close coordination on North Korea policy.

President Lee explained, "The two countries exchanged broad views on regional and global issues and agreed on the importance of South Korea-Japan and South Korea-US-Japan cooperation for peace and stability in the region amid rapidly changing international circumstances. I emphasized the need for South Korea, China, and Japan to maximize common ground for communication and cooperation in Northeast Asia."

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

Yonhap News Agency

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

In the social sector, the two sides acknowledged the discussions held by the "South Korea-Japan Joint Social Issues Council," launched last year, on topics such as low birth rates and aging populations, balanced regional development, agriculture and disaster prevention, and suicide prevention. President Lee suggested, "Let us achieve tangible outcomes in addressing common challenges such as regional growth." Regarding the response to transnational crimes such as scam crimes, he explained, "Japan has agreed to join the international cooperation council initiated by the Korean National Police Agency, and we have also agreed to adopt a memorandum of understanding to institutionalize this cooperation."

President Lee also proposed expanding people-to-people exchanges. He stated, "In an 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," and suggested simplifying immigration procedures, encouraging school trips, and expanding the current mutual recognition of technical qualifications-currently limited to the IT sector-to other fields as well.

South Korea-Japan Leaders' Surprise Drum Ensemble to K-Pop Demon Hunters and BTS... President Lee: "A Lifelong Dream Fulfilled"

After concluding the summit, President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed and exchanged drumsticks after a drum ensemble at the reception hall in Nara Prefecture, Japan, on the 13th. The two leaders played drums together to the theme song "Golden" of K-Pop Demon Hunters and BTS's hit song "Dynamite." Prime Minister Takaichi was a drummer in a heavy metal rock band during her school days. Yonhap News

This summit, the fifth since President Lee's inauguration and the second since Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's resignation and Prime Minister Takaichi's inauguration, lasted a total of 88 minutes, including a 20-minute small-group meeting and a 68-minute expanded meeting. After completing the summit and joint press briefing, President Lee and Prime Minister Takaichi continued with a one-on-one conversation and a dinner.

During the conversation, the Japanese side prepared a surprise event that had not been disclosed in advance. Both leaders wore blue uniforms provided by the Japanese side and sat together in front of "Pearl" drums, a representative Japanese musical instrument brand, to perform an impromptu drum ensemble. According to the Blue House, this event was specially arranged by the Japanese side to symbolically demonstrate the rapport and closeness between the two leaders, turning the conversation into a special moment of cultural exchange as they played "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters and BTS's "Dynamite" together.

Kim Namjoon, spokesperson for the Blue House, stated, "At the event, President Lee remarked, 'Today, I fulfilled a lifelong dream. I have always wished to play the drums since childhood.' Prime Minister Takaichi personally explained how to play the drums to President Lee and led the ensemble." At the event, Prime Minister Takaichi presented President Lee with a pair of drumsticks, and both leaders signed and exchanged their drumsticks. The uniforms they wore were embroidered with the national flags and the leaders' names in English, adding a sense of friendship and mutual respect between the South Korean and Japanese leaders to this unexpected event, Kim added.

President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are playing drums together in the reception hall after a summit meeting on the 13th in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The two leaders played drums together to the theme song "Golden" of K-Pop Demon Hunters and BTS's hit song "Dynamite." Prime Minister Takaichi was a drummer in a heavy metal rock band during her school days. Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the Blue House noted that above all, the Japanese side's exceptional hospitality stood out during this visit. Spokesperson Kim stated, "From President Lee's arrival in Osaka to his arrival in Nara Prefecture, the Japanese side provided the highest level of security." He added, "Upon arriving at his accommodation in Nara Prefecture, contrary to the original plan, Prime Minister Takaichi personally greeted President Lee in front of the accommodation as a surprise. President Lee expressed his deep gratitude, saying, 'The people of the Republic of Korea will also appreciate the Prime Minister's thoughtful care.'"