Japan Prime Minister Takaichi Holds Talks With South Korea’s Lee in Andong

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for a two-day visit, meeting with President Lee Jae Myung in his hometown of Andong. The summit marks the third in-person meeting between the two leaders since last October and continues a pattern of reciprocal "shuttle diplomacy" that began with Lee's visit to Takaichi's hometown of Nara Prefecture in January.

The leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including North Korea's nuclear program and the conflict between the United States and Iran in the Middle East. A key anticipated outcome is an agreement on a new framework for energy cooperation, which would reportedly include joint crude oil stockpiling initiatives. Both nations are heavily dependent on imported energy and vulnerable to disruptions in global shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz.

The meeting follows a recent summit in Beijing between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the two leaders are expected to exchange views on those talks. Both Japan and South Korea maintain close security alliances with the United States while managing complex economic ties with China.