S. Korea, Japan arranging summit talks for Thursday: report
This composite photo shows a file photo of President Lee Jae Myung, left, and an EPA photo of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Yonhap
SEOUL/TOKYO — South Korea and Japan have been arranging bilateral summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi later this week, a Japanese media report showed Tuesday.
Seoul and Tokyo are seeking to arrange the summit for Thursday, the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun said, noting that the leaders of the two countries both appear to seek to maintain the momentum to improve bilateral ties.
The envisioned meeting comes as Takaichi is expected to arrive in South Korea on Thursday to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit set to kick off in the southeastern city of Gyeongju the following day.
In a press conference earlier in the day, Japan's chief cabinet secretary officially announced that Takaichi will pay a three-day visit to South Korea starting Thursday.
Various trade and investment-related issues, as well as issues on artificial intelligence and demographic change, will be discussed in the APEC summit, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said.
The senior official added that Takaichi will be holding summit talks with leaders of other countries on the occasion of her upcoming visit to South Korea.
The presidential office earlier said consultations are under way to arrange Lee's first summit with Takaichi on the occasion of the APEC gathering.
Lee is also set to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday and with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday.