Japan PM Fumio Kishida Likely to Visit S. Korea in Early September; Plans to Hold Talks with President Yoon Before Leaving Office

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:57 JST, August 21, 2024

Arrangements are underway for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to visit South Korea in early September to hold a meeting with President Yoon Suk Yeol, it has been learned.

The relationship between Japan and South Korea, which had been under strain due to issues such as court cases involving former wartime requisitioned workers from the Korean Peninsula, improved under the leadership of Kishida and Yoon.

Before Kishida leaves the office, the two leaders are expected to reaffirm the two nations’ policy to continue close bilateral cooperation.

The visit is being planned for around Sept. 6 and 7. The two leaders in March last year agreed to restart reciprocal visits of leaders between the two countries for the first time in 12 years, and Kishida’s visit will be a part of the move.

Kishida and Yoon are expected to agree to continue communication between the two countries after the change of prime minister in preparation for next year’s 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea.