Japanese media reported on the 14th that Japan is considering a plan for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to visit Korea next month and hold a summit meeting with President Yoon Seok-yeol.
Fuji TV, a private broadcaster, reported on this day that Prime Minister Kishida is considering a plan to visit Korea and hold a summit meeting with President Yoon in time for the official opening game of the U.S. Major League Baseball to be held at Gocheok Dome in Seoul on March 20. On this day, the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres will face off. In particular, many Japanese players, including Shohei Otani of the LA Dodgers, who are Japan’s top sports stars, and Yu Darvish, will participate.
The media mentioned that Prime Minister Kishida will visit Korea and discuss North Korean issues with President Yoon as part of the shuttle diplomacy that was revived between Korea and Japan last year. He also said, “With the Korean general election in April, the Japanese side aims to support President Yoon, who is active in Korea-Japan cooperation.” explained.
However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, a spokesperson for the Japanese government, denied this when asked a related question at a regular press conference on the same day, saying, “There is no such fact.” The President’s Office also said, “Nothing is currently being promoted.”
Some in Japan point out that Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Korea is unlikely considering the National Assembly schedule. In Japan, where the fiscal year begins in April, the budget bill is processed in mid- to late-March, but due to the nature of the parliamentary system, it is not easy for the prime minister to vacate the National Assembly at this time. Additionally, holding a Korea-Japan summit right before the general election, which is a very politically sensitive time in Korea, could be a burden for both countries, as there is a possibility of controversy regardless of the outcome.
However, it is difficult to completely rule out the possibility that the two leaders, who have accelerated the improvement of relations through a total of seven summit meetings last year, will meet again during a major league game to discuss responses to North Korea and solidification of cooperation.
Tokyo =
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.