S. Korea Pres. Lee Eager to Visit Japan Soon

   Seoul, July 3 (Jiji Press)--South Korean President Lee Jae-myung showed his intention to visit Japan at an early date by resuming the two countries' "shuttle diplomacy," or mutual visits by their leaders, in a press conference held in Seoul on Thursday to mark a month after he took office.
   With the two nations commemorating this year the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization, Lee also voiced his hope that Tokyo and Seoul will release a new bilateral statement, following the 1998 Japan-South Korea joint declaration, which called on the two East Asian neighbors to build a future-oriented relationship.
   Lee, who took office June 4, held his first in-person meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba later that month, on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven major countries in Canada, to which the South Korean leader was invited as a guest.
   Lee said he himself proposed reviving the shuttle diplomacy with Japan, adding that he intended to visit Japan early but that the Japanese side became busy due to the House of Councillors election scheduled for July 20.
   The president expressed hope to promote dialogue with the Japanese side through repeated mutual visits in order to reduce misunderstandings and facilitate cooperation.

(2025/07/03-16:54)