(C) Kyodo News

SEOUL/TOKYO – South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are reportedly arranging a summit in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan, for January 13-14 next year. This development, first reported by the Mainichi Shimbun citing diplomatic sources, signals a decisive pivot toward non-capital centric "regional shuttle diplomacy" between the two nations, setting the stage for President Lee's potentially broad-ranging diplomatic push across Northeast Asia.

The upcoming meeting in Nara, which is PM Takaichi's political home turf and a historical ancient capital, is expected to include talks and a dinner, with the ancient temple Tōdai-ji being considered as the primary venue. Tōdai-ji is historically significant, having been founded during the Nara Period (710–794) and bearing deep connections with toraijin (immigrants) from the Korean peninsula's Baekje kingdom. Discussions may also include a visit to the vicinity of Yamato-Saidaiji Station in Nara City, where former PM Shinzo Abe was fatally shot in 2022, to lay flowers.

The choice of Nara, following summits in Busan (under former PM Shigeru Ishiba) and Gyeongju (on the sidelines of APEC), reinforces the commitment to localized "shuttle diplomacy." This is seen as an effort to broaden consensus on shared challenges such as decentralization and balanced regional development—key pledges of President Lee—and to vitalize exchanges between the two countries' local regions. The Mainichi commented that hosting the summit regionally allows for a more intimate atmosphere by simplifying formalities.

Diplomacy Amid Tensions and Far-Right Rhetoric

The meeting, if realized, will mark President Lee's first visit to Japan since the inauguration of the Takaichi cabinet. The leaders are anticipated to reaffirm friendly and cooperative ties, specifically focusing on the concretization of cooperation in future-oriented fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI).

However, optimism regarding bilateral ties remains tempered. PM Takaichi, known for her far-right political leanings in Japan, has recently created diplomatic friction. Following controversial remarks hinting at intervention in a "Taiwan contingency" shortly after taking office, she made an unsolicited statement on December 9th asserting that "Dokdo (Takeshima) is Japanese territory."

Such remarks risk deteriorating South Korean public opinion, potentially putting pressure on President Lee's foundation of "practical diplomacy" and complicating efforts to stabilize the relationship.

Lee's Balancing Act: Pursuing 'Balanced Diplomacy'

Following the Japan visit, President Lee is also reportedly considering a trip to China to meet with President Xi Jinping. This proposed schedule underscores Seoul's intention to engage in "balanced diplomacy," simultaneously accelerating the recovery of relations with both Beijing and Tokyo.

This effort takes on added importance as a trilateral summit between South Korea, China, and Japan—originally anticipated for January in Japan—has been effectively derailed due to the rapid deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations. President Lee alluded to his intended mediator role at a foreign press conference on December 3rd, quoting a proverb: “There is a saying that you stop fights and encourage negotiations. Taking sides would only escalate the conflict.”

President Lee's expansive diplomatic itinerary in early 2026, navigating the increasingly strained dynamic between Tokyo and Beijing, will be closely watched for its potential to recalibrate the overall geopolitical landscape of Northeast Asia.

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