President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held a bilateral summit on Wednesday on the sidelines of the G7 summit. The two leaders met for approximately 30 minutes and emphasized the importance of building a stable and forward-looking relationship, marking 60 years since the normalization of diplomatic ties. Both sides agreed to strengthen high-level communication channels and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining trilateral cooperation with the U.S. on North Korea and regional security.

According to readouts from both governments, Lee and Ishiba welcomed the opportunity to meet face-to-face so soon after Lee’s inauguration and reiterated support for reviving shuttle diplomacy. The Japanese statement noted continued alignment on expanding economic and people-to-people exchanges, while the South Korean side highlighted the need for mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation amid shifting regional dynamics. A planned trilateral summit involving the U.S. did not materialize following President Donald Trump’s early departure from the G7.