South Korea–Japan summit in Andong advances pragmatic ties despite historical wounds
South Korea-Japan summit in Andong saw President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasize pragmatic cooperation on security and trade while acknowledging deep historical tensions.
Leaders meet for third summit since October 2025
President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held their third summit in Andong, South Korea, in a continuation of a rare series of high-level meetings that began in October 2025.
The South Korea–Japan summit brought the two leaders together for talks focused on immediate strategic concerns rather than a full reconciliation of historical grievances.
Officials described the meeting as pragmatic diplomacy aimed at strengthening communication and coordinating responses to regional instability.
Historic grievances remain an undercurrent
Relations between Seoul and Tokyo remain shaped by Japan’s colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945, a legacy that has repeatedly disrupted bilateral ties.
Episodes such as the post-2019 dispute over wartime “comfort women” and recurring disagreements over historical interpretation continue to inflame public sentiment on both sides.
Despite those sensitivities, neither leader allowed historical disputes to derail face-to-face engagement at Andong.
Symbolism and hospitality underline outreach
Takaichi received ceremonial honours and a guard of honour on arrival, and the summit itinerary included cultural elements meant to signal goodwill.
Delegations shared a dinner featuring Andong-style chicken and visited Hahoe Village, the UNESCO-listed cultural site famed for its traditional architecture and performances.
Those symbolic gestures followed earlier meetings in Gyeongju and a January 2026 visit by President Lee to Nara, Takaichi’s hometown, which underscored a pattern of reciprocity in outreach.
Domestic politics shaped the diplomatic calculus
President Lee’s rise to office in June 2025 followed a period of intense domestic division over how South Korea should balance historical redress and strategic cooperation with Japan.
Lee’s Democratic Party has historically been sceptical of too-rapid rapprochement with Tokyo, yet his administration has adopted a pragmatic posture to safeguard national interests.
Prime Minister Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister, has taken positions questioning prevailing narratives about wartime conduct, complicating political dynamics at home and abroad.
Security and economics drive renewed engagement
Seoul and Tokyo share mounting strategic incentives to cooperate on issues including North Korea’s provocations, supply-chain security, and an assertive China.
“On a geopolitical level, both countries have clear reasons to work together to uphold a rules-based order,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies in Seoul.
The Andong summit prioritized concrete areas of cooperation rather than symbolic declarations, reflecting pressure to translate dialogue into operational coordination.
External diplomacy and rapid follow-up contacts
The summit occurred amid heightened diplomatic activity in the region, including recent talks between the United States and China that prompted Washington to press its allies for alignment.
U.S. President Donald Trump placed calls to both Lee and Takaichi after his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, underscoring U.S. interest in closer trilateral consultation.
Those contacts reinforced Washington’s long-standing encouragement for Seoul and Tokyo to manage their differences and collaborate on shared security challenges.
Practical steps, repeated outreach and a cautious outlook
Both leaders committed to maintaining frequent phone contact and additional visits, with Takaichi inviting Lee to return to Japan and proposing informal exchanges such as a hot spring visit.
The leaders signalled an appetite for a shuttle-style diplomacy that combines high-level meetings with cultural and personal exchanges designed to lower political temperature and build working ties.
Analysts caution that while the Andong summit represents progress in practical coordination, public opinion and unresolved historical issues will continue to limit the pace of deeper reconciliation.
The Andong talks demonstrated that, for now, Seoul and Tokyo are prioritising practical cooperation over immediate resolution of historical disputes, seeking to manage regional risks together while leaving hard history to longer-term processes.