(2nd LD) Lee stresses ties with Japan as vital as China, urges dialogue to ease tensions

김은정 / 2026-01-12 22:43:13

(2nd LD) Lee-Japan relations

▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during an interview with Japan's public broadcaster NHK at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Jan. 12, 2026, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) Lee-Japan relations

(2nd LD) Lee stresses ties with Japan as vital as China, urges dialogue to ease tensions

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with latest details; CHANGES headline, photos)

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Monday that South Korea's relations with Japan are as important as those with China and that Seoul does not intend to intervene in tensions between the two Asian neighbors.

Lee made the remarks in an interview with Japan's public broadcaster NHK ahead of his visit to Japan's Nara Prefecture for summit talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The trip comes at a diplomatically delicate time, following Lee's state visit to China for summit talks with President Xi Jinping last week amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Tokyo over Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan.

Lee said he told Xi during the talks that for South Korea, "relations with Japan are as important as those with China."

He noted that Xi holds "a very negative view" of Japan's position on Taiwan, but avoided taking sides on the sensitive issue, which Beijing considers to be related to its core interests.

"For me, this is a matter between China and Japan, not one in which we will deeply engage or intervene," Lee said.

"As conflict and confrontation between China and Japan are not appropriate for peace and stability in Northeast Asia, I hope the two countries will resolve the issue amicably through dialogue," he added.

As his administration seeks to strike a delicate balance between China, South Korea's major economic partner, and the United States, its longstanding ally, Lee reiterated his commitment to trilateral security cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.

"Since there is a basic axis of security cooperation among Korea, the United States and Japan, we will need to move forward with security cooperation in line with that framework," he said.

While acknowledging lingering concerns over mutual trust over historical issues, Lee suggested that the two countries should work together in areas where cooperation is possible amid the shifting geographical dynamics.

"In the complex situation facing Northeast Asia, Korea and Japan are very important to each other in that they share common values and orientation, and should complement each other's shortcomings," Lee said.

Lee also welcomed Takaichi's expression of intent to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to the North, stressing that dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington, as well as between Pyongyang and Tokyo, is vital to peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

"I think it would be good for Japan and North Korea to develop relations based on dialogue and communicate and if necessary, to move toward establishing diplomatic ties," he said, noting he would like to play a role in helping create conditions for such progress.

Regarding South Korea's ban on seafood imports from eight Japanese prefectures, Lee said the issue needs to be addressed "over the long term," as it requires the trust of the Korean people and therefore cannot be resolved in the short term.

Lee said the issue is a major item on Seoul's diplomatic agenda as it seeks Tokyo's support for its bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The CPTPP is a multilateral trade pact led by Japan that currently includes 12 members, including Australia and several countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

South Korea imposed the ban in 2013 over radiation concerns following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and has vowed to keep the restrictions in place until public concerns are fully eased.

Lee's upcoming trip will mark his fifth summit with a Japanese prime minister since taking office last June. He held three rounds of talks with Takaichi's predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, and held his first summit with Takaichi in October on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju.

Lee will visit the ancient city of Nara, Takaichi's hometown, as part of reciprocal leader-level visits dubbed "shuttle diplomacy" aimed at sustaining recent momentum in improved relations.

The upcoming talks are expected to cover regional and global issues, including North Korea, as well as cooperation in the economy, society and culture, Cheong Wa Dae said.

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