South Korea's newly elected President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to deepen bilateral relations during a phone conversation, according to statements from a South Korean presidential spokesperson and Japan’s foreign ministry on Monday (June 9). The discussion followed previous remarks from both leaders expressing a shared commitment to continued coordination on issues related to North Korea.

President Lee, a progressive leader elected just last week, emphasized a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, stating he intends to maintain security cooperation with both Japan and the United States. According to his spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung, Lee expressed a desire to address regional tensions through trilateral collaboration with Tokyo and Washington.

The two leaders highlighted the importance of their countries' relationship and agreed to arrange a face-to-face meeting to advance their partnership further, Kang said. Prime Minister Ishiba reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, noting that it should be built upon the existing foundation laid by both governments, according to Japan’s foreign ministry. The call lasted approximately 25 minutes, the ministry noted.