
Japan and South Korea reaffirm cooperation ahead of Trump's inauguration
On January 13th, 2025, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visited his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, in Seoul. This meeting, held just a week before Donald Trump's second inauguration as US President, served to reaffirm the importance of bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
Both Iwaya and Cho emphasized the significance of trilateral cooperation with the United States, particularly on security issues. Iwaya stressed the need to communicate to the new US administration the increasing importance of strategic coordination with Japan and South Korea, the two key US allies in the region. Cho, in turn, emphasized the need to continue institutionalizing trilateral cooperation, which has seen progress under the outgoing Biden administration.
The meeting also addressed growing concerns about military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, particularly in light of Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This marked the first bilateral visit to South Korea by a Japanese foreign minister in nearly seven years.
For South Korea, the meeting served to display its diplomatic stability, despite internal political turmoil following President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law last month. Both ministers acknowledged the importance of demonstrating continued close cooperation between Japan and South Korea, both domestically and internationally.
In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea, both ministers pledged to promote exchange programs for young people between the two countries. They also agreed on the importance of holding a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting with China in the near future.
Iwaya's visit to South Korea comes amidst ongoing political turmoil in the country. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's planned visit to Seoul earlier this month was canceled due to the situation. Despite these challenges, the meeting between Iwaya and Cho underscores the continued commitment of both Japan and South Korea to bilateral cooperation and regional stability.