**The Day Before Visiting Japan – NHK Interview**
Ahead of his trip to Japan, an interview with President Lee Jae-myung was broadcast on NHK on the 12th. President Lee mentioned that the issue of lifting the ban on importing seafood from Fukushima, Japan could be a major negotiation agenda for joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP is a multilateral free trade agreement launched in 2018 by countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and its members include Japan, Canada, and Australia, among others, totaling 12 countries. South Korea is also seeking to join.
In a solo interview with Japan’s NHK released on the 12th, President Lee stated regarding the South Korean government’s ban on importing seafood from eight prefectures, including Fukushima, “It will be difficult to lift the ban in the short term due to issues of national sentiment and trust.” However, he pointed out that “the seafood import issue is a very important agenda for gaining Japan’s cooperation in joining the CPTPP,” and emphasized the need to discuss future responses as a long-term issue.
This approach is interpreted as a practical one, placing the seafood issue on the diplomatic table as an official agenda, while drawing a line at the immediate resumption of imports out of respect for national sentiment, yet considering the national economic interest of joining the CPTPP.
President Lee is scheduled to visit Nara Prefecture, the hometown of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, for two days from the 13th to hold a summit. Regarding the direction of the summit, President Lee stated, “In the context of the Northeast Asian situation, it is important for Korea and Japan to share values and goals,” and emphasized the need to “supplement shortcomings, compete, and find areas for cooperation.”
Regarding North Korea-related issues, he reiterated support for contacts between Japan and North Korea. Concerning Prime Minister Takaichi’s intention to pursue a Japan-North Korea summit, President Lee expressed, “Dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea, and Japan-North Korea, is very important for peace and stability in Northeast Asia,” and indicated that South Korea wishes to play its part in creating a situation where relations between Japan and North Korea can develop through communication.
The upcoming summit between President Lee and the Japanese Prime Minister will be the fifth meeting since his inauguration, and the second since Prime Minister Takaichi took office after the resignation of former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.