Overview

• Leaders marked six decades since the 1965 normalization treaty that provided $500 million in Japanese assistance and resolved wartime compensation issues.
• Lee Jae Myung signaled continuity with his predecessor’s pragmatic approach toward Japan despite lingering historical grievances.
• Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba publicly acknowledged Japan’s wartime aggression and expressed empathy toward Asian victims to foster reconciliation.
• The two governments pledged regular high-level communication and joint action on North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.
• Facing rising U.S. tariffs under President Trump, both countries plan to coordinate their trade response to protect their export-dependent economies.