As CNN previously reported, the leaders of South Korea and Japan promised to resume ties in a fence-mending summit in March – the first such meeting in 12 years – as the two neighbors sought to confront threats from North Korea and rising concerns about China.
Mutual visits by Japanese and South Korean leaders had been suspended as ties soured over several issues, including a dispute over proper compensation of South Koreans who were forced to work in Japan during the Japanese occupation of South Korea in the early 20th century.
In recent years the often fraught relations have undermined efforts by the United States to present a united front against North Korea – and the growing assertiveness of Beijing.
The two East Asian neighbors have a long history of acrimony, dating back to Japan’s colonial occupation of the Korean Peninsula a century ago.
Biden met with both leaders for a trilateral meeting in May 2023 in Hiroshima, Japan, during the G7 meeting and in June 2022 at the NATO summit in Madrid.
Persons:
Joe Biden, Kishida Fumio, Yoon Suk, Camp David, “, ”, David, Biden, Barack Obama, John Kirby, Yoon, Kishida, they’ve, ” Kirby
Organizations:
CNN, South, Camp, White, DPRK, ASEAN, United States National Security, ROK, Mutual, North Korea –, NATO
Locations:
United States, Japan, Republic of Korea, South Korea, North Korea, China, Beijing, Hiroshima, Madrid