South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on Saturday, his first full summit since taking office. The visit, ahead of Lee’s upcoming talks with US President Donald Trump, highlighted efforts to strengthen ties between Seoul and Tokyo, according to Firstpost.

The two leaders discussed closer exchanges, including easier visas and working holiday programs, while addressing shared concerns over North Korea and China. Marking 60 years of normalized relations, both signaled a more conciliatory approach: Lee urged future-focused ties while acknowledging unresolved historical issues, and Ishiba expressed remorse over Japan’s wartime past.

The meeting was largely symbolic but seen as an important step in rebuilding trust and reinforcing trilateral cooperation with the US, Firstpost reported.