President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said after a meeting in Lee's home town of Andong that they would deepen co-ordination to stabilise energy supply lines and expand co-operation with other Asian partners, as supply disruption from war in the Gulf strains their import-dependent economies.
"Recent instability in supply chains and energy markets stemming from the situation in the Middle East has further underscored the need for close co-operation between our two countries," Lee said in a joint media statement on Tuesday.
Takaichi said they also launched a bilateral initiative focusing on strengthening energy supply resilience, including enhancing reserves in the Indo-Pacific, and "assessing energy security through measures such as mutual swap transactions for crude oil, petroleum products and LNG".
The two leaders also reaffirmed stronger security co-ordination, including trilateral co-operation with the United States, as they confront shared challenges including North Korea, and broader regional tensions.
Lee said recently upgraded vice ministerial-level security talks between the two countries marked "meaningful progress" in institutionalising defence dialogue.
The summit in Andong was the sixth meeting between the two leaders since Lee took office and the second of 2026 under their "shuttle diplomacy" framework.
Both leaders said the rapid succession of meetings - including reciprocal visits to each other's home towns - showed the depth of trust between the countries and a broadening of co-operation beyond capitals to regional and economic ties.
South Korea and Japan have sought to strengthen co-ordination despite longstanding historical disputes, as both governments place greater emphasis on economic security, advanced technology cooperation including artificial intelligence, and regional stability.
In Andong, the leaders will attend a banquet featuring Korean and Japanese cuisine, symbolising bilateral friendship.
They will also take in cultural performances including a piano recital and a traditional riverside firework and pansori program.
11°C