South Korea Aims to Strengthen Positive Relations with Japan Under Ishiba – Reuters

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea is optimistic about collaborating with Japan’s new cabinet, aiming to strengthen ties with its closest neighbor and partner, according to comments from its foreign ministry following the election of Shigeru Ishiba as the leader of Japan’s ruling party.

President Yoon Suk Yeol has prioritized diplomatic efforts to enhance relations with Tokyo and promote trilateral security cooperation alongside the United States, seeking to move past years of tensions rooted in Japan’s wartime actions.

The foreign ministry expressed, “South Korea and Japan are the closest neighbors and partners that share values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, while pursuing common interests in security, economy, and global agendas.” It added that the government looks forward to the two countries proactively working towards a brighter future together.

Ishiba is poised to become Japan’s next prime minister after winning a closely contested election for leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, marking his fifth and final attempt.

Before Yoon took office in 2022, relations between the two regional allies, both allied with the United States, had deteriorated significantly, plagued by heated diplomatic and trade disputes linked to Japan’s colonization of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945.

The outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Yoon managed to establish a renewed partnership, which was encouraged by U.S. President Joe Biden.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency has described Ishiba as “a dove” regarding Japan’s relations with South Korea, referencing his previous statements that questioned whether Japan has adequately addressed its historical role in World War Two, a factor that continues to impact relationships with neighboring countries.