Key Facts
• On August 24, CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda met South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Tokyo.
• The meeting lasted over 30 minutes at the CDP headquarters.
• Noda praised the Japan-South Korea joint document issued on August 23.
• He advised Lee to formalize agreements with the U.S. on tariffs, reflecting Japan’s past lessons.
• Noda highlighted the importance of “multi-layered” Japan-South Korea relations beyond government-level diplomacy.
• Lee and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to develop future-oriented bilateral relations.
• Noda expressed regret for not formalizing agreements with South Korea during his tenure as prime minister.
• Discussions included CPTPP and Japan-South Korea FTA as potential areas of cooperation.
• Noda proposed involving the U.S. in East Asia summits to strengthen regional ties.
• He emphasized the need for both government and party-level shuttle diplomacy, suggesting a parliamentary delegation visit to South Korea.
Summary
On August 24, Yoshihiko Noda, leader of Japan’s Constitutional Democratic Party, met with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Tokyo. The meeting, lasting over 30 minutes, focused on strengthening Japan-South Korea relations and evaluating the joint document issued by Lee and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Noda advised Lee to formalize agreements with the U.S. on tariffs, reflecting on Japan’s past experiences. He also discussed future-oriented cooperation, including CPTPP and Japan-South Korea FTA, and proposed involving the U.S. in East Asia summits. Noda emphasized the importance of both government and party-level diplomacy, expressing a desire to visit South Korea with a parliamentary delegation.
