SEOUL, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed Seoul on Tuesday for a two-day visit to Japan, where he is scheduled to hold a bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as the two countries seek to deepen cooperation amid heightened regional tensions.
The summit is taking place in the ancient city of Nara, Japan's first permanent capital and Takaichi's hometown, adding symbolic weight to the meeting.
Takaichi highlighted that symbolism in a post on X ahead of Lee's arrival, saying the leaders would meet "in the ancient capital of Nara with more than 1,300 years of history and longstanding cultural exchanges between Japan and the Korean Peninsula," adding that she hopes the talks will help push bilateral relations "in a forward-looking way."
Seoul and Tokyo, whose relations have long been strained by historical disputes, have seen ties thaw in recent years as they confront shared challenges, including North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats and volatility in U.S.-China relations.
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