South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will visit Japan from August 23 to 24 for a summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, his office said on Wednesday (August 13). The meeting will focus on strengthening regional peace and advancing trilateral cooperation with the United States, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung. While the exact date of the summit during Lee’s two-day stay was not specified, officials confirmed it will be a key part of his visit.

Lee has previously been a vocal critic of initiatives by past South Korean governments aimed at improving ties with Japan. However, during his first meeting with Ishiba on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada in June, the two leaders committed to fostering closer relations. This upcoming summit marks their second official engagement.

Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have often been tense, largely due to unresolved historical issues stemming from Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Despite these challenges, both countries recognize the strategic importance of cooperation, especially in light of shifting geopolitical dynamics.

The talks will also take place against the backdrop of U.S. tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump’s administration, which have significant implications for both economies. Lee’s visit to Japan will directly precede his trip to the United States, where he is scheduled to hold a summit with Trump on August 25. This sequence of high-level meetings underscores South Korea’s diplomatic push to strengthen ties with key allies amid regional and global economic challenges.