Japan-Republic of Korea Relations
Japan-ROK Summit Meeting
September 30, 2025
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
On September 30, commencing at 4:50 p.m. for approximately 75 minutes, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan held a Summit Meeting with H.E. Mr. LEE Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) during his visit to Busan, the ROK. The summary of the meeting is as follows.
Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister ISHIBA offered flowers to the grave of Mr. Lee Soo-hyun, who deceased in an accident while trying to save a Japanese man who had fallen onto the railway track at Shin-Okubo Station in 2001.
- At the outset, Prime Minister ISHIBA expressed his gratitude to President Lee for the invitation to the ROK and stated that he found it deeply meaningful to have the opportunity to engage in substantive discussions with President Lee in Busan, a city with close ties to Japan due to its geographical proximity and its role as the departure point for the Chosen Tsushinshi/Joseon Tongsinsa (Korean Embassies). Prime Minister ISHIBA expressed his intention to advance “shuttle diplomacy” through this visit.
- The two leaders had a candid exchange of views on the overall Japan-ROK relations and concurred to significantly develop the Japan-ROK relations in a stable manner based on the outcomes of the summit meeting in Tokyo this August.
- The two leaders welcomed the progress in discussions on cooperation between the two countries regarding common social issues including the vice-ministerial-level consultations held in Tokyo on the previous day, September 29th and concurred to strengthen collaboration based on the joint document published today. Furthermore, they concurred to hold a Japan-Korea Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation to discuss cooperation in science and technology fields, including AI.
- The two leaders affirmed that Japan and the ROK will continue strategic communication on security and economic security areas to respond in coordination amid the increasingly severe strategic environment.
- The two leaders also exchanged views on regional situations including the Indo-Pacific and Palestine. The two leaders discussed their policies toward North Korea, including the nuclear and missile issues, and reaffirmed that they would work closely together between Japan and the ROK as well as among Japan, the ROK and the U.S. toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Prime Minister ISHIBA also requested President Lee's continued understanding and cooperation toward the immediate resolution of the abductions issue, and the two leaders concurred on the importance of such efforts.
- At the dinner hosted by President Lee following the Summit Meeting, the two leaders talked about common social issues of the two countries and the Chosen Tsushinshi/Joseon Tongsinsa (Korean Embassies), among other topics. The commemorative stamps issued in Japan to mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of the Japan-ROK relations were also brought up.