South Korean President Holds High-Level Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister

On Tuesday, the same day Putin arrived in Beijing, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met in Lee’s hometown of Andong. This was their fourth meeting within six months. Following a meeting in Takaichi’s hometown in Nara Prefecture in January, this visit marked a reciprocal hometown visit between the two leaders.

The discussions focused on energy security, supply chain issues, and cooperation with the United States amidst global uncertainties. This meeting reflects a parallel diplomatic alliance in East Asia, as Beijing and Moscow grow closer while US-backed nations Seoul and Tokyo accelerate their coordination. The meeting took place amid tense Japan-Russia relations, with Moscow describing ties between the two countries as an ‘unprecedented post-war ice age.’