The two leaders held their first meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where Lee missed talks with Trump
President Lee Jae Myung (right) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during their talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, on June 17, 2025
KANANASKIS, Canada – South Korea’s newly elected President Lee Jae-myung held his first summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation and resume regular bilateral exchanges.
The two leaders also agreed to bolster trilateral security coordination with the US on North Korea issues amid mounting geopolitical tensions in Northeast Asia and globally.
Meeting on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in the Canadian resort town of Kananaskis near Calgary, Lee and Ishiba struck a conciliatory tone in their 30-minute discussion, acknowledging the urgency of stronger ties as the two neighbors grapple with escalating threats from North Korea, as well as global shocks from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The summit came just two weeks after Lee assumed office, underscoring his administration’s intent to build on the recent diplomatic thaw with its closest neighbor.
"Japan and South Korea are like neighbors sharing a front yard, inseparable despite some differences," Lee said in opening remarks, according to Seoul’s presidential office. "While we may have divergent views on some matters, our shared interests outweigh them. Close cooperation is more essential than ever."
President Lee Jae Myung (right) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta (Courtesy of Yonhap) Ishiba noted the rapidly deteriorating global security environment.
“The international situation is grave,” he said, citing the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and between Israel and Iran, as well as rising tensions in Northeast Asia. “I sincerely hope Japan and South Korea can become a cooperative force for regional and global stability.”
SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY
The two leaders agreed to continue developing the three-way alliance with the US, particularly on deterrence and response mechanisms related to North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats.
The face-to-face meeting took place a week after their phone conversation, during which they agreed to address geopolitical crises through three-way cooperation with Washington.
They also committed to expanding bilateral cooperation beyond security, aiming to strengthen economic resilience and regional supply chain integrity.
South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung (left) has his first phone call with Donald Trump on June 6, 2025 (Courtesy of AP via Yonhap) A symbolic, but significant, takeaway from the Seoul-Tokyo summit was the reaffirmation of “shuttle diplomacy” – regular reciprocal visits by national leaders.
Officials said the Lee-Ishiba meeting is expected to set the tone for continued diplomatic momentum, with both sides agreeing to hold further working-level discussions to institutionalize the practice.
The talks coincided with the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries, a milestone both leaders referenced as a springboard to forge a “mature and resilient” bilateral relationship.
Lee’s outreach to Ishiba is seen by analysts as part of a broader strategic realignment aimed at ensuring Seoul’s voice remains central in shaping Indo-Pacific security architecture, even as the US-China rivalry intensifies and Pyongyang accelerates weapons development.
During the G7 summit, Lee was also supposed to have a one-on-one meeting with US President Donald Trump. The talks were canceled as Trump left Canada early to deal with the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping had their first phone call on June 10, 2025 Earlier this month, Lee had a phone call with Trump, who congratulated Lee on his inauguration as South Korea's leader.
South Korea and Japan are among those exporters set to be most affected by Trump's steep trade tariffs on vehicles, auto parts, steel and aluminum, as well as country-specific tariffs. Both governments are engaged in negotiations to mitigate the potential economic fallout.
Although not a G7 member, South Korea was invited by host nation Canada to the expanded G7 sessions, offering President Lee a diplomatic debut on the global stage.
Seoul officials said the Korean government is also in consultations with China to arrange a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping following a phone conversation between the two last week.
Write to Jae-young Han at jyhan@hankyung.com In-Soo Nam edited this article.
