President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan shake arms earlier than their expanded summit assembly held in Nara, Japan, on Jan. 13, 2026. (Kim Tae-hyeong/Hankyoreh)
Throughout their summit on Tuesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi vowed to pursue future-oriented cooperation geared toward creating bilateral relations and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional stability.
“The scenario is difficult and troublesome, however for all of the uncomfortable features, there are additionally snug and good features as effectively,” Lee stated in the course of the two leaders’ expanded summit assembly in Japan’s Nara Prefecture on Tuesday afternoon.
“We will discover extra good components and develop them, and we will handle the uncomfortable or dangerous components and reduce them. If we march ahead hand-in-hand, we will undoubtedly create a greater future,” he added.
“All through final 12 months, which marked the sixtieth anniversary of the institution of bilateral relations, we frequently displayed the energy of Japan-South Korea relations. I’m very glad about that,” Takaichi stated.
“Beginning with President Lee’s go to, let’s make this one other 12 months of creating Japan-Korea relations to a better stage,” she added.
After their summit, the 2 leaders issued a joint assertion to the press.
Lee introduced that the leaders had agreed to pursue joint DNA testing to confirm the identities of the surviving stays of the victims of the 1942 Chosei coal mine catastrophe, which pertains to the thorny historical past shared by the 2 international locations.
“I believe that it’s significant that we have now been capable of obtain small however vital progress on historic points via this summit,” he added.
The Chosei coal mine catastrophe killed 183 staff, together with 136 from the Korean Peninsula who had been forcibly mobilized by Japan when an underwater mine in Yamaguchi Prefecture collapsed in 1942, in the course of the Japanese occupation of Korea.
Lee additional stated that each international locations “reaffirmed their dedication” relating to the entire denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and constructing a everlasting peace, and agreed to “proceed shut coordination on North Korea coverage.”
“We exchanged views on a broad vary of regional and international points. We additionally agreed on the significance of Korea-Japan and Korea-US-Japan cooperation for regional peace and stability amid quickly altering worldwide circumstances,” he added.
“As well as, I emphasised the necessity for South Korea, China and Japan to search out as a lot widespread floor as attainable, talk with one another, and cooperate,” Lee stated.
Concerning the abductions of Japanese residents by North Korea, a significant subject in Japanese politics, Takaichi expressed gratitude for the “sturdy help we have now acquired from the president towards the fast decision of the abductions subject.”
The Japanese chief added that each international locations held in-depth discussions relating to provide chain cooperation.
The 2 leaders had been accompanied by a small variety of advisors of their summit at 2:30 on Monday, which was later expanded to incorporate extra officers. The summit was adopted by a joint assertion for the press. After the summit, Lee attended a banquet with Takaichi at 5:30 pm on the identical day.
By Shin Hyeong-cheol, employees reporter
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