Seoul – In a significant diplomatic engagement, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida committed on Friday to sustaining the positive momentum in bilateral relations, aiming to transcend historical tensions and reinforce security cooperation, particularly in the face of North Korea’s burgeoning military alliances with Russia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the two leaders, meeting in Seoul, pledged to continue fostering a forward-looking relationship, despite the upcoming leadership change in Japan as Prime Minister Kishida has decided not to seek re-election. President Yoon emphasized the importance of maintaining and building on the collaborative foundation the two nations have established, particularly in light of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan.
During the summit, the leaders also signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for emergencies in third countries, which aims to facilitate the evacuation of citizens from conflict zones and enhance information sharing. “Amid ongoing global instability, the MOU is expected to serve as an institutional framework to ensure the safety of the citizens of both countries,” stated Kim Tae-hyo, principal deputy national security adviser.
The discussions further explored ways to simplify travel between the two countries, with ongoing consultations about a pre-entry inspection system that would allow immigration procedures to be completed before departure, thereby streamlining the entry process.
This meeting marked their 12th and final summit, during which Kishida reaffirmed his commitment to the principles of the 1998 Korea-Japan Joint Declaration and expressed support for President Yoon’s unification doctrine aimed at peaceful reunification with North Korea based on liberal values. The leaders’ reaffirmed commitment to strategic cooperation also underscores the restoration of “shuttle diplomacy,” enhancing bilateral and trilateral security collaboration with the United States in response to regional threats.