South Korean leader undergoes efforts to strengthen his nation's relationship with Japan ahead of his meeting with Trump

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Japan on Saturday for a much-anticipated summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This marks Lee's first official visit to Japan since taking office in June 2021.

The summit, scheduled for August 24, 2023, is aimed at strengthening security cooperation between the two nations. The meeting will take place ahead of Lee's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday.

During his first meeting with Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of a Group of Seven summit in Canada in June, Lee expressed support for closer relations with Japan. The upcoming summit is expected to discuss bilateral ties, including closer security cooperation with the United States under a trilateral pact.

However, the visit comes amidst sensitive historical issues. Many Koreans see the Yasukuni Shrine, a shrine in Tokyo dedicated to Japan's war dead, as a symbol of Japan's wartime aggression. The South Korean government expressed "deep disappointment and regret" after Japanese officials visited the shrine earlier this year.

Lee has criticized past efforts to improve relations strained by lingering resentment over Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Yet, the focus of this visit appears to be on strengthening security cooperation in the face of common threats, such as North Korea and China.

The U.S. hosts around 80,000 troops, dozens of warships, and hundreds of military aircraft in both Japan and South Korea. In response to Trump's threatened steeper tariffs, Japan and South Korea agreed to impose 15% tariffs on U.S. imports of their goods.

Lee's visit to Japan will be followed by a trip to the USA on August 25, 2023. During his meeting with Donald Trump, the two leaders are expected to discuss security concerns, including the financial contribution for U.S. forces stationed in South Korea.

Lee will meet Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the premier's residence in Tokyo. The details of their discussions remain to be seen, but the visit marks a significant step towards strengthening the security relationship between South Korea and Japan.

South Korean leader undergoes efforts to strengthen his nation's relationship with Japan ahead of his meeting with Trump