SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea and Japan are set to hold important talks in the South Korean capital on Monday as they strive to emphasize their strengthened ties and mutual security concerns amidst a significant political upheaval in Seoul. The meeting between South Korea’s Cho Tae-yul and Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya represents a significant milestone as it is the first of its kind between the two countries since President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law last month, a move that took many South Koreans by surprise.
President Yoon has remained secluded in his hillside residence in Seoul following his impeachment and suspension by parliament last month over his martial law decree on December 3. Investigators have pledged to apprehend him following an unsuccessful attempt earlier this month. Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya is also scheduled to meet with Acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok, as confirmed by the Japanese government.
As the administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office on January 20, the original leaders who established a three-way security cooperation pact between the countries in 2023 – U.S. President Joe Biden, President Yoon, and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida – will no longer be in power. Under the leadership of President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida, relations between Seoul and Tokyo notably improved after reaching their lowest point in decades due to contentious diplomatic and trade disputes stemming from Japan’s occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
President Yoon had made it a top priority to mend relations with Tokyo and enhance security cooperation, particularly in addressing the military threats posed by North Korea. During a recent visit to South Korea, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed confidence in Seoul’s democratic processes while acknowledging Washington’s “serious concerns” regarding some of the actions taken by President Yoon during his martial law declaration.
Despite surveys indicating that a majority of South Koreans disapprove of President Yoon’s martial law declaration and support his impeachment, his ruling People Power Party (PPP) has experienced a surge in public backing. According to the latest Realmeter poll released on Monday, support for the PPP stood at 40.8%, with the main opposition Democratic Party close behind at 42.2%. This marginal difference is within the poll’s margin of error and reflects a decrease from a gap of 10.8% reported last week.
The pivotal meeting between the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan underscores the significance of their alliance and shared security interests amidst the prevailing political turmoil in Seoul. As the global landscape undergoes transitions in leadership, the ongoing dialogue between these key U.S. allies holds implications for regional stability and cooperation in addressing common challenges, including the evolving security threats posed by North Korea.
(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim in Seoul and Tim Kelly in Tokyo; Editing by Ed Davies)
