Sources: Japan PM to visit ROK for summit with Yoon

In this file photo taken on Aug 31 2022, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo. (PHOTO / AP)

TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to visit the Republic of Korea in coming weeks and meet with President Yoon Suk-yeol, officials said, reciprocating a Tokyo visit by the ROK leader last month.

A Japanese government official and another official from a Group of Seven government said the meeting was expected before Kishida hosts a G7 summit from May 19.

Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Saturday the two will meet around May 7 or 8, citing multiple unnamed Japanese and ROK diplomatic sources.

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The two sides agreed to revive shuttle diplomacy when Yoon met with Kishida in Tokyo in March, the first Japan visit by a ROK president in 12 years

Their aim will be to confirm the two neighbors’ strengthening of cooperation ahead of the Hiroshima G7 summit, Kyodo said.

Asked about reports of the bilateral summit, Kishida said in remarks broadcast by public network NHK that nothing concrete had been decided.

An answering machine at Japan's foreign ministry on Saturday said no one was available over the weekend.

Ties between Tokyo and Seoul, long strained by issues including war time compensation and trade, have been improving in recent months.

The two sides agreed to revive shuttle diplomacy when Yoon met with Kishida in Tokyo in March, the first Japan visit by a ROK president in 12 years.

The last visit by a Japanese prime minister to the ROK was made by Shinzo Abe in 2018, according to NHK.

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US President Joe Biden this week praised Yoon's efforts toward improving relations with Japan during a visit by Yoon to Washington. Biden, Yoon and Kishida are to meet on the sidelines of the Hiroshima summit, according to Japanese media reports.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Kim Yo-jong, the sister of DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, said a US-ROK agreement this week about the need to shore up ROK security will worsen the situation, according to state media KCNA.

The DPRK is convinced it must further perfect a "nuclear war deterrent" as a result, Kim was quoted as saying.