Copyright kyodonews
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set to hold her first bilateral summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung later Thursday in South Korea on the fringes of a regional economic gathering there. Takaichi, who took office last week and is known as a staunch conservative, has expressed her desire to stably develop "future-oriented" ties with the neighboring country, building on efforts in recent years to improve the relationship, often overshadowed by wartime history issues. Takaichi said she will first meet with Lee after arriving in South Korea, which is hosting the two-day leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum from Friday. The predecessors of Takaichi and Lee cleared the way for the recent warming of bilateral ties. A practice of reciprocal visits at the summit level was resumed in 2023, after over a decade's hiatus when ties soured largely over wartime compensation and other issues.
