Japan, S. Korea Leaders Agree on Energy Security Cooperation

Andong, South Korea, May 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung confirmed Tuesday that their nations will consider concrete measures for energy security cooperation, such as mutually supplying crude oil and bolstering oil reserves, in view of the prolonged turmoil in the Middle East. The two sides released a joint statement featuring such plans. At the bilateral summit in the city of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, Takaichi stressed the importance of “the two countries playing vital roles in the stability of the Indo-Pacific region,” while Lee said South Korea and Japan are important partners. In a joint press conference after the meeting, Takaichi said that she wants to “make steady progress” in bilateral security cooperation. Both Japan and South Korea face difficulties procuring critical goods such as naphtha due to the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transport waterway for Middle East crude oil. At the meeting, the two leaders discussed the “POWERR Asia” energy aid framework for Asian countries, announced by Takaichi last month, and agreed to launch a policy dialogue between the Japanese and South Korean governments to promote energy cooperation, including for liquefied natural gas. They exchanged views on the outcome of last week’s summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Takaichi and Lee also discussed North Korea’s growing ties with Russia and confirmed their policy of dealing with the issue under the trilateral framework including the United States, an ally of both Japan and South Korea. They also affirmed close cooperation on information sharing, in order to further boost security and economic security collaboration between Japan and South Korea, and among the two nations plus the United States. Takaichi thanked Lee for his support in seeking a swift resolution of the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang. This was the fourth in-person meeting between the two leaders, and Takaichi’s visit to South Korea was arranged as part of so-called shuttle diplomacy, or mutual visits by the leaders of Japan and South Korea to each other’s country. “At a time when the world is becoming unstable, it is extremely meaningful for the leaders of Japan and South Korea to engage in close communication through shuttle diplomacy,” Takaichi said at the press conference. Lee expressed his hopes for a further boost in the two nations’ future-oriented cooperation. Andong is the hometown of the South Korean president. Takaichi invited Lee to her home prefecture of Nara in western Japan in January, where they held summit talks. After the bilateral summit, Takaichi and Lee attended a banquet to deepen their relationship of trust. They also visited the Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Andong. Takaichi arrived in South Korea on Tuesday and is slated to return home Wednesday. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]