South Korea’s Lee in Tokyo to highlight friendly ties with Japan before key summit with Trump
TOKYO (AP) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is in Tokyo to hold his first full summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a visit largely aimed at showcasing friendly ties between the two Asian neighbors that now face common challenges from America, their mutual ally. Lee’s visit Saturday comes in an unusual order — putting Japan ahead of the United States — helping him to better prepare for his crucial first summit in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump, mainly on trade and defense issues. His Tokyo visit before Washington is well received by Japanese officials who see it as a sign Lee is placing great importance to relations between the two neighbors whose ties have been repeatedly disrupted by historical disputes, hampering their trilateral coordination with Washington.
