Overview

• Seoul and Tokyo have confirmed that President Lee will visit Washington before arriving in Tokyo around August 23 to hold separate summits with President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
• The trip inaugurates a shuttle diplomacy framework through reciprocal high-level visits by the South Korean and Japanese heads of government.
• Leaders intend to use the summits to cement trilateral security coordination on North Korea’s nuclear and missile developments and China’s maritime activities.
• The visits coincide with the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations, reinforcing commitments to stable and enduring Japan–South Korea ties.
• Both governments have finalized dates and broad agendas for the late-August summits as part of efforts to institutionalize regular top-level dialogue.