By The South Asia Times

SEOUL - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for closer trilateral cooperation among Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing as he held summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, against the backdrop of heightened diplomatic tensions between Japan and China.

“I emphasized the need for the three Northeast Asian countries — Korea, Japan and China — to identify as much common ground as possible in order to communicate and cooperate,” Yonhap News qouted Lee as saying during a joint press announcement in Nara.

The meeting came weeks after Lee’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, at a time when relations between China and Japan have been strained following remarks by Takaichi on Taiwan. Lee said the changing regional environment made dialogue among the three powers increasingly important.

Lee and Takaichi also reaffirmed the importance of bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan to ensure regional peace and stability. The two leaders agreed to continue close coordination on North Korea, pledging to work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Historical issues were also discussed. Both sides agreed to cooperate on recovering remains from the Chosei undersea coal mine in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture, where a 1942 flood killed 183 people, including 136 Korean forced laborers. Lee described planned DNA testing and working-level consultations as “small but meaningful progress.”

Looking ahead, the leaders committed to expanding “future-oriented cooperation” through reciprocal visits known as shuttle diplomacy. They agreed to launch talks on artificial intelligence and intellectual property, simplify entry procedures, encourage student exchanges, and expand mutual recognition of technical qualifications.

Lee also proposed strengthening joint efforts against transnational crimes such as online scams and adopting a joint document to provide an institutional framework for cooperation.

“Amid a complex and dizzying international order, cooperation between Korea and Japan is more important than ever,” Lee said, adding that the two countries must confront history while building trust for the future.

Takaichi said she would work closely with Lee to promote regional stability, expressing hope that his visit would further elevate Seoul-Tokyo relations.