Ishiba, Lee Affirm Continuation of Shuttle Diplomacy

Busan, South Korea, Sept. 30 (Jiji Press)–Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met in Busan, South Korea, on Tuesday and agreed that the two countries will continue “shuttle diplomacy,” or reciprocal visits by their leaders, to foster stable bilateral relations. This is Ishiba’s first visit to South Korea since taking office last year, and likely his last foreign trip as he is set to leave office after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election this weekend. “I hope the next administration will promote Japan-South Korea relations without going back,” Ishiba told reporters after the meeting. During the meeting, Ishiba and Lee also agreed that the two countries will promote strategic security dialogue. The South Korean president said at the start of the meeting that he hopes that uninterrupted reciprocal visits will constantly develop bilateral relations. Ishiba responded that Japan will make efforts to produce results from shuttle diplomacy. The two sides issued a joint document on intergovernmental discussions to address common social challenges, such as population concentration in each country’s capital and population decline. They also agreed to hold a meeting of a bilateral panel on cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. Regarding North Korea, Ishiba and Lee reaffirmed the importance of Japan-South Korea and Japan-U.S.-South Korea cooperation in achieving the denuclearization of the reclusive country. Ishiba expressed appreciation for South Korea’s support for Japan’s efforts to resolve the issue of Japanese abductees in North Korea. Lee explained his government’s ideas for seeking to ease tensions and build rapport with Pyongyang, and asked the Japanese side for cooperation, including in resolving the nuclear issue. Ishiba’s visit came after Lee invited him to a South Korean regional city when the two met in Japan in August. It is the first time that a Japanese prime minister has visited a South Korean city other than Seoul for bilateral diplomacy since then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met with then South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Jeju Island in 2004. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]