Ishiba, Lee Meet in Seoul, Agree to Continue Future-Oriented, Cooperative Relations

By Takashi Nakagawa / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

17:37 JST, April 9, 2026

SEOUL — Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed Wednesday that it is important to continue future-oriented, cooperative relations between the two countries.

They held a 90-minute lunch meeting at the Blue House in Seoul.

Prior to the meeting, Ishiba gave a speech at a policy research institute and called for strengthened security cooperation. He said it is an “urgent task” for the Self-Defense Forces and the South Korean military to sign an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, which would allow for the smooth, mutual provision of supplies between the two countries.