Japan and South Korea Sign Agreement on Emergency Evacuation
Japan and South Korea have signed an agreement to work together when evacuating their citizens from third countries during emergencies. This marks a significant step forward in the relationship between the two countries, which has seen dramatic improvement under the administrations of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Yoon Suk-yeol.
The agreement, signed on September 6th, 2023, is the first of its kind for Japan with another country. It pledges that Japan and South Korea will share information through consultations of senior government officials roughly once a year, even in peacetime. This will allow for closer cooperation when the situation in a third country worsens to the point where citizens need to be evacuated.
The agreement comes as Japan-South Korea relations have significantly improved under Kishida and Yoon. The two leaders have met in person 12 times since Yoon's election in 2022, and they have agreed to continue strengthening cooperation and exchanges. They are also considering making it easier for citizens of each country to enter the other.
The agreement also addresses the issue of North Korea and Russia's military collaboration. Kishida and Yoon agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and their partnership with the United States in response to this development.
This agreement on emergency evacuation is a positive step forward for Japan and South Korea. It demonstrates the commitment of both countries to working together to ensure the safety of their citizens abroad. It also builds on the recent improvements in the relationship between the two countries, which is a welcome development for the region.