Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter | South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Tokyo on Thursday

for the first formal summit between the leaders of South Korea and Japan since 2011, with trade and inte-

lligence sharing on the agenda.

President Yoon is scheduled for two-day visit that is South Korea's first bilateral presidential trip to the neigh-

boring nation in 12 years, an illustration showing how long the relations between the two countries have been frayed over historical disputes.

The Korean presidential office said his visit was aimed at “breaking the vicious cycle of stagnant relations”

between South Korea and Japan.

President Yoon’s visit to Japan comes after his administration last week announced his plan to resolve the

issue of compensation for Koreans forced labor workers in the Japanese companies during World War II.

Both country leaders have said they want to deepen coordination on regional challenges, which include

frequent North Korean missile launches and China’s military expansion. 

North Korea, an hours before president Yoon’s arrival to Japan has fired another ballistic missile on Thursday morning that landed in the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

Yoon and Kishida are set to discuss sharing of real-time intelligence on missile launches and the potential

lifting of trade restrictions imposed on Seoul by Tokyo in 2019, according to officials in both countries.

Washington has welcomed the tentative rapprochement between Seoul and Tokyo as it seeks a unified

response to military threats from Beijing and Pyongyang.

President Yoon said, “South Korea should put priority on future cooperation rather than disagreements over

the past.” As his administration’s proposal to resolve the forced labor dispute between the two nations already drew criticism among the victims, lawmakers, civil groups and supporters because it doesn’t require the Japanese companies to contribute to settlements.

A Gallup poll Korea conducted shortly after the Korean government’s proposal shows the opposition of nearly 60% of South Koreans, 31% of respondents are agree to improve good relations between Japan and South

Korea as soon as possible, while 64% said there was no need to rush.

A poll published by Japan’s Kyodo News on Monday showed that 57% of Japanese supported president Yoon’s proposal on the forced-labor issue.
President Yoon is arrived in Japan with leaders of South Korean businesses, including Samsung Electronics Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. He is set to return to Seoul on Friday evening.