Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba has hosted South Korean President, Lee Jae Myung in Tokyo for a visit aimed at reaffirming security cooperation and showcasing friendly ties between the two East Asian neighbours.

The neighbours are currently facing common challenges from their mutual ally, the United States.

On his first official visit to Japan since taking office in June, Lee met Ishiba on Saturday at the Premier’s residence to discuss bilateral ties, including closer security cooperation with the US under a trilateral pact signed by their predecessors.

The two leaders first met in a closed, small group of officials before summit talks with expanded groups.

Ishiba said in a joint announcement with Lee after their meeting, “As the strategic environment surrounding both our countries grows increasingly severe, the importance of our relations, as well as trilateral cooperation with the United States, continues to grow.”

The leaders agreed to resume shuttle diplomacy, expand exchanges such as working holiday programmes, and step up cooperation in defence, economic security, artificial intelligence and other areas.

They also pledged closer coordination against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.

Lee’s visit comes two days before his crucial first summit in Washington with US President Donald Trump. The two men are expected to discuss security concerns, including China, North Korea, and Seoul’s financial contribution for US forces stationed in South Korea – something the US leader has repeatedly pressed it to increase.

Lee’s decision to visit Tokyo before Washington has been well received by Japanese officials, who see it as a sign Lee is placing great importance on relations between the two neighbours whose ties have repeatedly been disrupted by historical disputes, hampering their trilateral coordination with Washington.

For Ishiba, who faces pressure from right-wing rivals within his governing party to resign over its July election loss, Lee’s visit and a successful summit could shore up his support.

Despite their differences, the two US allies rely heavily on Washington to counter China’s growing regional influence. Together, they host about 80,000 US soldiers, dozens of US warships and hundreds of military aircraft.

Japan and South Korea also share common ground on trade, with both agreeing to 15 percent tariffs on US imports of their goods after Trump had threatened steeper duties.

Lee said alongside Ishiba that they agreed that unwavering cooperation between South Korea, the US and Japan is “paramount in the rapidly changing international situation, and decided to create a virtuous cycle in which the development of South Korea-Japan relations leads to stronger cooperation.”

South Korea’s Lee Stresses Importance Of Cooperation

South Korean President, Lee Jae Myung, in his first full summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on Saturday, stressed the importance of setting aside differences and cooperating in common areas as the leaders showcased their efforts to develop friendly ties.

He noted that Japan and South Korea can cooperate in many areas, but also have conflicts because they are so geographically close.

Lee added that at a time when global trade and security are shaken, it is more important than ever for the two countries with shared principles to cooperate, calling for increased dialogue through “shuttle diplomacy.”

For the two leaders, who last met only on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in June, Saturday’s talks are largely symbolic and aimed at highlighting their friendship and focusing on exchanges as this year also marks the 60th anniversary of normalizing their diplomatic ties, he said.

Rintaro Nishimura, an associate with The Asia Group’s Japan branch, said the timing of Lee’s visit shows “his way of pragmatic diplomacy” with a focus both on bilateral and trilateral relations with the US.