South Korea's Lee in Japan to shore up ties before meeting Trump

Members of a civic group shout slogans next to pictures of US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during a rally ahead of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's visit to Japan in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Part of the letters read "Sovereignty and Peace." - AP

TOKYO: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Japan on Saturday (Aug 23) for a summit expected to reaffirm security cooperation between the two East Asian neighbours before Lee meets US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday.

On his first official visit to Japan since taking office in June, Lee will meet Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the premier's residence in Tokyo to discuss bilateral ties, including closer security cooperation with the United States under a trilateral pact signed by their predecessors.