Kishida's visit to South Korea set to revive 'shuttle diplomacy'

Regular meetings between Japanese and South Korean leaders last seen in 2011

- Chang May Choon

With Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visiting Seoul on Sunday, South Korea and Japan are set to resume so-called shuttle diplomacy, amid warming ties that have given a boost to trilateral cooperation with their mutual ally, the United States.

Shuttle diplomacy, which involves regular meetings between the leaders of the two countries, was last seen in 2011.

Bilateral ties then froze over spats related to history and trade, until the conservative administration of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in 2022 and made proactive efforts to resolve the thorny issue of compensation for wartime forced labour.

Signs of a thaw emerged in March, when Mr Kishida invited Mr Yoon to Tokyo to discuss ways to normalise ties at a summit and over sukiyaki, omurice and beer.

The reciprocal working visit to Seoul will serve as a "good opportunity to frankly exchange opinions on ways to develop JapanSouth Korea relations and the rapidly changing international situation", Mr Kishida said on Monday.

The two leaders are set to hold a summit on Sunday to discuss issues such as national security, advanced industries and cultural exchanges, according to South Korea's presidential office.

They will then hold a joint press conference and have a casual dinner together with their spouses.

Mr Yoon has voiced hope for the friendship between the two countries to "gradually expand" with the resumption of shuttle diplomacy.