The governments of Japan and the United States are coordinating a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Japan around November 27-29, prior to his attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, Yomiuri Shimbun reported on November 3.

U.S. President Donald Trump. AP Yonhap News. 

According to multiple Japanese government officials, a summit between the leaders of Japan and the U.S. is expected to be held on November 28.

President Trump is also coordinating a schedule to meet with the families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea on the same day.

The summit will be attended by a new prime minister, not the current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

This is because a new prime minister will be inaugurated around November 15, following the election of a new party leader in the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election on November 4.

In Japan's parliamentary system, a change in the ruling party's leader necessitates a new prime ministerial election in the Diet.

Although the current Japanese Diet is in a situation where the ruling party has fewer seats than opposition parties, local media reports indicate that the new LDP president is likely to succeed Prime Minister Ishiba, as the LDP is the largest party and significant ideological and policy differences make it difficult for opposition parties to unite.

The newspaper stated that the two countries are expected to confirm the strengthening of the deterrence of the Japan-U.S. alliance and discuss their response to China during the summit.

President Trump plans to travel to Gyeongju, South Korea, to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which will be held from November 31, after completing his visit to Japan.

Yonhap News