By Micah Jonah
January 13, 2026
Japan and South Korea have pledged to strengthen security and economic cooperation to address growing regional tensions, their leaders announced after a summit in Nara, Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President, Lee Jae Myung discussed industrial supply chains, artificial intelligence, denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, and closer coordination with the United States.
Both leaders emphasized the urgency of deepening bilateral ties and combating cross-border online scams, while acknowledging lingering historical disputes from Japan’s colonial rule over Korea.
The summit is part of ongoing “shuttle diplomacy,” with Takaichi expected to travel to South Korea for their third meeting.
