Overview

• The leaders issued a joint document confirming continued shuttle diplomacy, strategic dialogue on security, and cooperation on shared social issues.
• South Korea hosted a state‑guest level dinner featuring a menu blending Tottori and Busan specialties, which officials said symbolized harmony between the two countries’ cuisines.
• Busan served as the summit venue in a rare move for bilateral talks outside Seoul, marking the first such visit by a Japanese prime minister in 21 years.
• Working‑level coordination advanced with a vice‑ministerial meeting in Tokyo on Sept. 29 that set information‑sharing in five fields: low birthrate, regional revitalization, agriculture, disaster prevention, and suicide prevention.
• Public reaction diverged, with a warm reception in South Korea and some in Japan dismissing the trip as a “graduation tour,” as Seoul also sought to reaffirm Japan’s stance during difficult tariff talks with the United States.