Japanese media outlets analyzed that the common intention of the two leaders in agreeing on economic security cooperation, including energy supply chains, at their summit in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, on the 19th, was to overcome domestic anxiety heightened by the Middle East situation through diplomatic achievements.

President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, while maintaining shuttle diplomacy, agreed to expand cooperation in energy and supply chains amidst an unstable international situation, including the conflict in Iran.

The two countries decided to promote public-private dialogue related to crude oil and petroleum product swaps and mutual supply, based on the 'Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for Stable Supply and Demand of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)' signed in March.

Prime Minister Takaichi stated, "President Lee Jae-myung and I agreed to begin cooperation to strengthen energy security, including mutual flexibility and swap transactions of crude oil, petroleum products, and LNG," introducing the specific discussion points.

The discussion began with the intention of the two nations, South Korea and Japan, which rely heavily on the Middle East for crude oil due to the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, to join forces and overcome energy supply chain instability in a situation where they are both facing a crisis in energy supply and demand.

NHK reported that Prime Minister Takaichi suggested to President Lee, "If anything difficult arises between our two countries, Japan and Korea, who are in the same time zone, or if you have concerns regarding relations with foreign countries, let's call each other."

The Mainichi Shimbun evaluated the summit, stating, "Amidst the uncertain outlook due to the turmoil in the Middle East and deteriorating relations with China, the intention of Prime Minister Takaichi to seek regional stability through cooperation with South Korea and President Lee's desire to emphasize diplomatic capabilities aligned, resulting in a display of good South Korea-Japan relations both domestically and internationally."

Mainichi analyzed that this summit held in Andong provided President Lee, who is facing local elections, an opportunity to 'appeal' to voters with achievements in the energy security sector, which has high public interest, and his stance of valuing local regions.

In particular, it was explained that highlighting cooperation with Japan in Andong, President Lee's hometown and a politically conservative region, was also advantageous in winning over local voters.

The newspaper pointed out that the stalemate in the Middle East situation could pose a risk to the Lee Jae-myung administration, which has prioritized the economy and people's livelihoods, noting, "As a Korean cargo ship was attacked by an unidentified flying object while navigating the Strait of Hormuz, reports have emerged in the Korean media stating, 'Japanese ships pass through the strait relatively well, but Korean ships are stopped,' and there are voices questioning the government's response."

It concluded by explaining, "At this summit, by agreeing to strengthen cooperation with Japan, which, like South Korea, relies on the Middle East for crude oil and other resources, particularly in areas such as petroleum supply and stockpiling, criticism regarding a lack of diplomatic capability has been mitigated."

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the joint press conference between South Korea and Japan [Andong=Yonhap News]

In an analytical article prior to the summit, NHK also stated, "It is likely that President Lee had the intention of showcasing diplomatic achievements domestically and bolstering the ruling party's momentum in the local elections through this summit," and predicted, "In an unpredictable international situation, there will be more situations ahead that will require cooperation with Japan, an important neighboring country, to overcome."

The Yomiuri Shimbun noted the timing of this summit, which followed the US-China summit held in Beijing on the 14th, and speculated that the South Korean and Japanese leaders likely shared information related to the outcomes of the US-China meeting and exchanged opinions on future approaches to China and the US.

The Nikkei Shimbun reported that the South Korean and Japanese leaders agreed to cooperate on artificial intelligence (AI) and economic security, and that cooperation in advanced fields such as space exploration and biotechnology was also discussed.

Yonhap News