President Lee Jae-myung’s first bilateral summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday highlighted that both countries remain committed to maintaining improved ties, but their failure to bridge strategic divides may have been a missed opportunity for deeper alignment.

Held in Tokyo, the summit continued the shuttle diplomacy revived under former ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. It also marked the first joint statement between the two governments in 17 years.

The statement included pledges to collaborate on emerging industries such as hydrogen and artificial intelligence, expand youth and cultural exchanges and coordinate