Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Seoul today, Sunday, for a summit meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, where the two leaders seek to strengthen relations amid nuclear threats from North Korea and increasing aggressive activities from China. Yoon Suk Yeol remarked that cooperation between Japan and South Korea is essential for global peace, noting his responsibility to mend ties and that "the meeting shows that progress is being made quickly." For his part, Kishida expressed hopes for an "open discussion based on a relationship of trust" with Yoon.
Kishida's visit is the first by a Japanese prime minister to Seoul in 12 years, responding to Yoon's visit to Tokyo last March, as both sides aim to close a chapter on historical disputes that have dominated Japan-South Korea relations for years. However, historical differences between the two countries also threaten to cast a shadow over the flourishing relations between the leaders.
