Lee, Ishiba pledge stronger S. Korea-Japan partnership at Tokyo summit

In first joint statement in 17 years, two nations reaffirm commitment to Korean Peninsula denuclearization, stronger trilateral ties with US

President Lee Jae-myung (left) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after a joint press conference at the Japanese Prime Minister’s official residence in Tokyo on Aug. 23, 2025. /Yonhap

President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued a joint press statement following their bilateral summit in Tokyo on Aug. 23, reaffirming their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and lasting peace, and pledging close coordination on North Korea policy. The statement marks the first joint document between the two countries in 17 years.

At a joint press conference after the summit, Lee and Ishiba emphasized the importance of “future-oriented, mutually beneficial cooperation” and described the meeting as an early resumption of shuttle diplomacy between Seoul and Tokyo. The statement also noted that Ishiba reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to uphold past administrations’ positions on historical issues, including the 1998 Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration, in which then-Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi expressed “deep remorse and heartfelt apology” for Japan’s colonial-era actions.

President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba hold a bilateral summit at the Japanese Prime Minister’s official residence in Tokyo on Aug. 23, 2025. /Yonhap

The joint statement outlined five areas of cooperation: coordination on North Korea and regional security, strengthening regional and global collaboration, enhancing exchanges and strategic communication between leaders, expanding cooperation in future industries, and broadening people-to-people exchanges.

On North Korea, the two leaders agreed to work with the international community to ensure full implementation of U.N. Security Council sanctions in response to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile threats, including its growing cyber activity and closer military ties with Russia. They also emphasized the importance of efforts to resolve the abduction issue.

Regarding regional and global cooperation, Lee and Ishiba stressed the importance of steady South Korea-Japan and South Korea-Japan-U.S. collaboration amid a rapidly changing international environment. They agreed to continue building a positive cycle in which stronger bilateral ties support broader trilateral cooperation and recognized the need to strengthen strategic communication under the evolving economic and trade order, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

The two nations also agreed to expand cooperation in future industries such as hydrogen and artificial intelligence (AI) and to establish intergovernmental consultative groups to address shared social challenges, including low birth rates, population aging, urban concentration, and agricultural issues. To further promote people-to-people exchanges, they decided to expand the bilateral “working holiday” program from one-time to two-time participation.

President Lee Jae-myung (right) waves as he leaves for Japan and the United States with his wife Kim Hye-kyung on Aug. 23, 2025. /Yonhap

Although some had expected a full joint declaration ahead of the summit, Lee and Ishiba instead issued a joint press statement. A presidential office official noted that preparation time was too short for a declaration, but suggested a formal joint declaration defining a new Korea-Japan relationship could come in the near future. In an interview with Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun on Aug. 21, Lee expressed his intention to build a forward-looking South Korea-Japan relationship beyond the Kim-Obuchi Declaration.

The joint statement avoided direct mention of sensitive issues, including historical disputes and Japan’s request to ease restrictions on Japanese seafood imports. In remarks during the expanded summit session, Lee emphasized the importance of resolving difficult issues carefully while prioritizing areas where cooperation can provide immediate benefits for both nations. He also highlighted that he is the first South Korean president to make Japan his first bilateral visit after assuming office, underscoring Seoul’s emphasis on the importance of the Korea-Japan relationship.