By Kim Rahn
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will have their first summit July 7 on the sideline of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.
The summit was planned after the two leaders agreed on the need for a swift meeting right after Moon’s May 9 election victory. Abe made a congratulatory phone call to Moon May 11 and the two leaders had another call May 30 when North Korea test-fired a missile. Moon also sent a special envoy, Rep. Moon Hee-sang of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, to Japan from May 17 to 20, while Abe’s envoy, Toshihiro Nikai, also visited Korea from June 10 to 13.
“The two heads will build trust and friendship as well as discuss various issues to boost exchanges and to resolve North Korea’s nuclear threats,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said.