Shuttle Diplomacy between Japan and ROK Deepened

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Andong, the Republic of Korea, and had a summit meeting with ROK President Lee Jae Myung on May 19th. It marked continuance of frequent visits by both leaders in the context of “shuttle diplomacy.” Takaichi and Lee stressed importance of cooperation for maintaining supply chains in an unusually volatile international situation brought by the war in Iran. 

Takaichi expressed her pleasure of practicing shuttle diplomacy which both leaders concurred to promote at their first meting in October 2025. Initiated by Jun-ichiro Koizumi and Roh Moo-hyun in 2004, the shuttle diplomacy between Japan and ROK symbolized stable relations of both government with some intermissions by distrust between leaders. Takaichi has been showing her willingness to build a close relationship with Lee.

 

In the last meeting when Lee visited Tokyo in January, they had a general discussion on strategic importance of their bilateral relations, promoting economic security including cooperation in supply chain and coordination for nuclear and missile development of North Korea. Aiming at building personal friendship, Takaichi played drums with Lee and invited him to her hometown, Nara. “Nara” means “country” in Korean language. In return, Lee invited Takaichi to his hometown, Andong.

 

Their meeting in May was held in a different circumstance from January. The attack of Iran by the United States and Israel brought economic uncertainty to the world. Japan and South Korea are suffered from difficulty of securing oil, as the Strait of Hormuz was effectively blocked by Iran. They reconfirmed cooperation for securing supply chain based on a bilateral memorandum for arrangement of readiness to international disorder in March.

 

Takaichi and Lee shared necessity of cooperation to secure energy resource by reinforcement of oil reserve in the region of Asia-Pacific, based on a concept called POWERR Asia, $10 billion monetary support for the countries in Asia-Pacific region. Both leaders also agreed on energy security by accommodating crude oil, oil products and LNG each other. The Iran war promoted cooperation of Japan and ROK.

 

Japan and ROK shared a notion that it was important for them to grapple with enhancement of deterrence and response capability through each alliance with the U.S. Not only nuclear and missile development of North Korea, concerns of Japan and ROK extend to Asia-Pacific region and the world. Both governments had their first vice-minister level dialogue on security earlier this month. Takaichi and Lee welcomed that development in bilateral security cooperation.

 

Some problems still remain between both governments. Japan and ROK announced earlier this month that they would start examination of bones found in the Chosei Coal Mine in Ube City, Japan, where 136 Korean workers died in an accident in 1942. Japanese government has left this issue behind for decades. Takaichi and Lee agreed on accelerating the research on this issue in January meeting, but it has not made a great progress b y this May.

 

Takaichi pays respect to former prime minister Shinzo Abe and Lee is recognized as a successor of former president Moon Jae-in. Abe and Moon could not build a close relationship, as Abe faced public antipathy in South Korea, namely against Abe’s denial of Japan’s war-time responsibility for mobilization of comfort women. It is paid attention whether Takaichi and Lee can overcome their political mentors’ ill relationship.

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