According to the BBC, during the summit, Lee and Takaichi agreed to boost economic cooperation, with a specific focus on stabilizing supply chains. This pledge comes as China tightens exports of rare earths and dual-use goods, prompting Tokyo and Seoul to seek closer alignment.
“Cooperation between Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. has become increasingly important amid heightened tensions in the region’s strategic environment,” Takaichi said in a statement following the talks.
President Lee echoed this sentiment with a musical metaphor on the social media platform X. “Even if our timing was slightly different, our intention to find the same rhythm was shared,” said Lee, who gifted Takaichi a drum set for the session, acknowledging her background as a former heavy metal drummer. “In that same spirit, we will continue to build a future-oriented Korea–Japan relationship together.”
The summit marks a notable shift in Lee’s diplomatic stance. Previously viewed with skepticism in Tokyo and Washington due to his past rhetoric, Lee has recently pursued a “diplomatic tightrope” strategy. This approach aims to balance relationships among major powers, evidenced by his recent engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. However, challenges remain. While relations with Japan and the U.S. are improving, tensions with North Korea persist. Pyongyang recently rejected Seoul’s overtures and demanded an apology over alleged surveillance drone flights.
Meanwhile, the viral video of the leaders’ drumming has drawn positive reactions online, with citizens from both nations expressing hope that these cultural exchanges will pave the way for substantive political progress.
