Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung shake hands ahead of their summit, Jan. 13, Nara City. (Pool photo)
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met for a bilateral summit in Nara Prefecture on January 13, reaffirming commitments to regional stability and continued cooperation on various domains.
This marks the second bilateral summit between the two leaders, following their first meeting on the sidelines of last October's APEC summit in Gyeongju.
The summit lasted roughly 90 minutes, beginning with a 20-minute closed-door meeting attended by foreign ministers and national security advisors, followed by a 68-minute expanded session with additional officials.
In a joint statement, Takaichi said the leaders confirmed "the need for both countries to work together to uphold regional security" and reiterated their commitment to "closely coordinate among Japan, South Korea, and the United States toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea."
Takaichi added that the two sides agreed to "deepen interagency discussions to promote strategic and mutually beneficial cooperation in economic security" and noted that she and President Lee had engaged in "extensive talks on supply chain collaboration."
She also expressed her gratitude to the South Korean president for his strong support in addressing the North Korean abductions issue.
Security and Economic Challenges
President Lee likewise underscored the growing importance of the South Korea-Japan-US trilateral partnership, saying the leaders shared a "common understanding of its role in maintaining peace and stability...amid rapidly changing global developments."
At the same time, he emphasized the need for dialogue and cooperation among Northeast Asia's three major economies — South Korea, China, and Japan — where common ground can be found.
"The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to achieving complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and establishing lasting peace, and pledged to maintain close coordination on North Korea policy," he said.
Although the two heads of state did not specify particular sectors, reports indicate they discussed the potential impact of China's rare earth export controls on Japan and possible responses.
Harmony at Nara
The summit, held in Nara, carried symbolic significance. Nara is Takaichi's hometown and political stronghold, where she has been elected lawmaker ten consecutive times since 1993.
Lee had proposed meeting outside the capitals during their first summit in Gyeongju, and the second summit was realized following an invitation from Japan.
Despite earlier concerns, sensitive historical issues appeared deliberately sidestepped, reflecting the leaders' emphasis on future-oriented shuttle diplomacy.
The two nations, however, agreed to jointly pursue DNA testing to identify the remains of Korean laborers who died in the Chosei Coal Mine flooding during the Japanese colonial era in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in 1942. In August 2025, an underwater operation was carried out to recover the remains of the victims.
The joint statement did not address South Korea's potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) or possible resumption of Fukushima seafood imports.
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Author: Kenji Yoshida
