President Lee Jae Myung begins a high-stakes diplomatic trip with a summit in Tokyo on Saturday, where he will meet Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to strengthen ties and promote “future-oriented” relations between South Korea and Japan. The leaders are expected to build personal trust and reaffirm cooperation on sensitive historical and regional issues.
Following his visit to Japan, Lee will travel to Washington for his first summit with US President Donald Trump since taking office. The two leaders will focus on “alliance modernization,” aimed at reinforcing defense cooperation and adjusting to evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. The agenda is also expected to cover economic ties after the recent trade agreement that lowered US tariffs on South Korean goods in exchange for expanded Korean investments.
During his US visit, Lee will also tour a shipbuilding facility in Philadelphia to highlight industrial cooperation and will conclude his trip with a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, underscoring the depth of the alliance.
