Overview

• South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held their first bilateral summit on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Toronto.
• Lee adopted a more pragmatic diplomatic stance in Toronto after facing criticism in Japan for his earlier comments.
• Both leaders voiced optimism about a future-oriented partnership but noted that unresolved wartime forced labor issues continue to cast a shadow over relations.
• Lee reiterated South Korea’s commitment to historical accountability and underscored domestic sensitivity to past grievances during the talks.
• Analysts say translating goodwill into tangible policy actions over the next few months will determine whether the summit yields lasting improvement.