South Korea, Japan agree to boost ties as challenges mount

Lee Jae Myung, South Korea's president, left, and Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's prime minister, shake hands during a joint news conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. Myung met Ishiba in Tokyo on Saturday ahead of a summit with Donald Trump, seeking to reassure counterparts he won’t backtrack on commitments made by his predecessors. - Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters/Bloomberg

TOKYO: The leaders of Japan and South Korea met on Saturday (Aug 23) and pledged to enhance cooperation between the two countries, saying economic and security challenges require them to step up bilateral relations.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held their bilateral meeting in Tokyo that lasted about two hours. Lee heads to the US next to meet President Donald Trump.