South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is embarking on a high-stakes diplomatic tour de force, underscoring Seoul’s determination to carve out strategic autonomy in a region beset by growing tensions. On January 13 and 14, 2026, President Lee will sit down with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Nara, Japan, for a summit that comes just days after Lee’s state visit to China for talks with President Xi Jinping. The back-to-back meetings are no coincidence—they reflect Lee’s bid to balance relations with both of South Korea’s powerful neighbors, even as the region faces mounting uncertainty.
In an interview with Japan’s public broadcaster NHK ahead of his trip, Lee was unequivocal: “In the complex situation facing Northeast Asia, Korea and Japan are very important to each other in that they share common values and orientation, and should complement each other's shortcomings.” According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee’s remarks capture the spirit of what he calls “pragmatic diplomacy,” a flexible approach aimed at deepening cooperation with Japan while maintaining stable ties with China.
The timing of the summit couldn’t be more delicate. Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have soured in recent weeks, with Prime Minister Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan—suggesting a Chinese attack could pose an existential threat to Japan—prompting a sharp response from China. As Reuters notes, the diplomatic chill between Japan and China gives Tokyo an added incentive to reinforce cooperation with Seoul, especially within the broader framework of U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral ties. Yet, South Korean officials are clear: they’re not about to be drawn into taking sides. “Maintaining room to manoeuvre remains central to Lee’s foreign policy calculus,” analysts told Reuters.
The summit in Nara, Prime Minister Takaichi’s home prefecture, is more than just a photo op. It marks Lee’s fifth summit with a Japanese prime minister since taking office in June 2025—a testament to the frequency and urgency of high-level contact. Lee has already met Takaichi’s predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, three times, and his first summit with Takaichi took place last October on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju. This “shuttle diplomacy,” as both countries have dubbed it, is designed to keep up the momentum in what has often been a rocky relationship.
What’s on the agenda? Security concerns, for starters. North Korea’s nuclear ambitions continue to loom large, as does the unresolved issue of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang decades ago. While these perennial topics are unlikely to see dramatic breakthroughs, both leaders have signaled a willingness to keep dialogue open. Lee, for his part, welcomed Prime Minister Takaichi’s intent to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un about the abducted Japanese nationals. “In terms of peace and stability in Northeast Asia, talks between North Korea and the U.S. and between North Korea and Japan are very important,” Lee told NHK. “I think it is good for relations between Japan and North Korea to advance through dialogue and communication, and I would like to play a role in making that possible.”
But the real action may lie in economic cooperation. Both Seoul and Tokyo have highlighted areas where collaboration could deliver concrete benefits—think artificial intelligence, semiconductors, intellectual property, and even easing travel for business executives. These are practical, forward-looking initiatives that can sidestep some of the more politically fraught issues. According to Reuters, officials on both sides see such cooperation as a way to deliver visible results while keeping sensitive disputes at bay.
Still, not everything can be swept under the rug. One of the thorniest issues is South Korea’s ongoing ban on seafood imports from eight Japanese prefectures, imposed in 2013 over radiation concerns following the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Lee told NHK that resolving this matter “requires the trust of the Korean people and therefore cannot be resolved in the short term.” He emphasized that the ban is a major item on Seoul’s diplomatic agenda, particularly as South Korea seeks Japan’s support for its bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)—a multilateral trade pact led by Japan and including 12 members.
Historical grievances also cast a long shadow. The legacy of Japan’s colonial rule of Korea, including the treatment of Korean women forced into wartime military brothels, remains unresolved and continues to shape public sentiment in South Korea. While these issues have receded from the immediate diplomatic agenda, analysts caution they could resurface at any time, complicating efforts to build lasting trust. As Reuters points out, both countries recognize the need for regular high-level contact to rebuild confidence and lay the groundwork for more substantive agreements down the line.
Lee’s two-day visit to Japan is notably shorter than his recent four-day trip to China—a subtle signal, perhaps, of Seoul’s intent to keep both relationships in careful balance. The choice of Nara for the summit also aligns with Lee’s broader domestic agenda, emphasizing regional development and cooperation beyond the major capitals. It’s a nod to the importance of building ties not just at the national level, but among local communities as well.
For now, Lee’s approach appears to be paying dividends. His approval rating has inched up to 61 percent, according to recent polling cited by Yonhap. Observers suggest that his rapid succession of summits with Xi and Takaichi sends a clear message: South Korea is determined to maintain strategic autonomy, extracting economic and diplomatic benefits while limiting the risks of being caught in the middle of intensifying regional rivalries.
Of course, the balancing act is only getting harder. As tensions over Taiwan and North Korea intensify, and as the U.S. continues to push for closer trilateral coordination with Japan and South Korea, the pressure on Seoul to pick a side may increase. For now, though, Lee’s emphasis on dialogue, continuity, and pragmatic cooperation suggests that stability itself is an achievement worth celebrating—even if concrete outcomes from the Japan summit remain modest.
As the world watches the Nara summit unfold, one thing is clear: in Northeast Asia’s complex diplomatic chess game, South Korea is determined to keep its options open, even as the stakes continue to rise.