Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shake hands at the APEC Summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Oct. 30. Newsis
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering a visit to Korea's southeastern city of Andong in mid-May to hold a summit with President Lee Jae Myung as part of their shuttle diplomacy, diplomatic sources said Wednesday.
Takaichi is considering a two-day trip to Andong, about 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul, which is Lee's hometown, with May 19-20 seen as the most likely dates, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The possible visit comes after Lee visited Takaichi's hometown in Nara in January, where the two leaders discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties.
The two leaders first met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju in October, where they pledged to actively pursue shuttle diplomacy.
If the visit takes place, the two sides are expected to exchange views and explore ways of cooperation regarding energy security and other challenges stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The potential summit could also provide an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss bilateral ties and broader global developments, as it would follow U.S. President Donald Trump's planned visit to China on May 14-15 for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, observers said.
Source: Korea Times News
