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3h ago

South Korea’s Lee Heads to Nara for First Full Summit With Japan’s Takaichi After China Trip

Seoul pursues pragmatic shuttle diplomacy to secure tangible economic cooperation without being drawn into Sino‑Japanese tensions.

Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The poster with Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, center, reads, "Stop the military cooperation," and "Apology for war crime." The poster, upper right, reads, "Dokdo is South Korea's own territory," and "Denounce, Takaichi's comment on Dokdo." The poster lower right, reads, "Oppose the military cooperation with Japan." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his wife Kim Hye-kyung arrive at Seoul Air base as they leave for Beijing, in Seongnam, South Korea, January 4, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
A protester holds a picture of Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a rally ahead of the summit meeting between South Korea and Japan, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The letters read "Dokdo is South Korea's own territory" and "Denounce, Takaichi's comment on Dokdo." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
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Overview

  • Lee and Takaichi will meet Tuesday in Nara during a two‑day visit that is part of a revived shuttle diplomacy effort.
  • Talks are expected to prioritize practical business steps, including cooperation in artificial intelligence and chips, easing executive travel, and intellectual property issues.
  • Security discussions are set to cover denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the fate of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.
  • Seoul is expected to stay neutral on Japan–China frictions after Beijing protested Takaichi’s remarks framing a Taiwan contingency as an existential threat to Japan.
  • It will be their first full summit and third meeting in under three months, with Tokyo likely to underscore coordination with the United States alongside improved bilateral ties.