South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's Diplomatic Engagements with Japan, Canada, and APEC Leaders

South Korea-Japan Summit

• 💡 President Lee Jae Myung held his first meeting with Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
• 🤝 Both leaders congratulated each other on their inaugurations and emphasized a message of future cooperation.
• 🔑 President Lee stressed the importance of "shuttle diplomacy" to separate thorny historical issues from future ties.
• 📌 Prime Minister Takaichi, described as an ultraconservative, arrived in Korea for a three-day visit to attend the APEC Leaders' Meeting.

Strengthening Ties with Canada

• 🇨🇦 President Lee met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, calling Canada a "key partner" and "tantamount to an ally" due to sacrifices during the Korean War.
• 🛡️ The two nations launched a bilateral Security and Defense Cooperation Partnership, which is the first of its kind for Canada in the Indo-Pacific.
• 🔒 An agreement to share classified military information was concluded, establishing a legal foundation for collaboration in defense procurement.

Broader Diplomatic Engagements

• 🌍 President Lee also held back-to-back meetings with leaders from New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia.
• 📈 Discussions focused on key cooperation areas including the economy, defense industry, and security.
• ✅ The relationship with New Zealand was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Upcoming Diplomacy

• 🗓️ More summit diplomacy is scheduled for President Lee throughout this "diplomatic super week."
• 🇨🇳 This includes a one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.