Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly planning to visit Korea late this month for a bilateral summit with President Lee Jae-myung. The two leaders are expected to discuss joint measures to address the Northeast Asian energy security crisis triggered by the Middle East war.
According to diplomatic sources on Thursday, Takaichi is coordinating a two-day visit to Korea during the fourth week of this month.
With both Korea and Japan facing heightened energy security uncertainties from the fallout of the Middle East war, the two leaders are expected to focus on cooperation measures related to stable energy supply. The summit could also take place shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump's planned mid-month visit to China and the U.S.-China summit, raising the possibility that U.S.-China competition and trilateral security cooperation among Korea, the U.S. and Japan will feature prominently on the agenda. Korea's potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is also likely to be discussed.
The two leaders are expected to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation through shuttle diplomacy. President Lee and Prime Minister Takaichi first met at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju last October, where they confirmed their intent to resume shuttle diplomacy. Lee subsequently visited Takaichi's home prefecture of Nara in Japan in January for a summit. During that January meeting, Lee proposed that they meet again in his hometown of Andong in North Gyeongsang Province, drawing attention to whether the upcoming summit will be held there.
Meanwhile, Korea and Japan are reportedly scheduled to hold a "two-plus-two" vice-ministerial security dialogue between their foreign affairs and defense authorities in Seoul on Friday. The vice ministers are expected to discuss the East Asian security environment, including North Korea's nuclear and missile development.
