Shigeru Ishiba calls for deeper Japan-South Korea ties in Seoul

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized the necessity of strengthening ties between Japan and South Korea during a visit to Seoul. In a meeting with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik, Ishiba noted that the decline in U.S. power compared to 2002 makes closer bilateral relations increasingly vital for regional stability.

During his visit, which included attending a media-hosted forum, Ishiba also met with South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook. Speaker Cho highlighted that cooperation has expanded across both government and private sectors, building on foundations established by previous leadership.

On the defense front, Japanese Vice Minister of Defense for International Affairs Atsushi Ando met with South Korean Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee at the Seoul Defense Dialogue. The officials discussed the importance of bilateral and trilateral cooperation involving the United States to address the situation regarding North Korea, agreeing to deepen defense collaboration.