Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to visit South Korea early next January for talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol, people familiar with bilateral affairs have said.
The two East Asian countries will next year mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations. Ishiba hopes to show his emphasis on the bilateral ties through so-called shuttle diplomacy, or mutual visits to each other's countries by their top leaders.
Since taking office in October, Ishiba has visited Laos and Peru to attend international conferences. South Korea is expected to be the first foreign country he will visit for bilateral diplomacy.
Ishiba and Yoon have already held meetings in Laos and Peru.
The main topic of the January meeting will be how to deal with North Korea, which has repeatedly fired ballistic missiles while enhancing its military cooperation with Russia.
Just ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S. president Jan. 20, the two Asian leaders will discuss how to deepen trilateral cooperation between Japan, South Korea and the United States.
The South Korean government boycotted Sunday's memorial organized by Japan for laborers at now-defunct gold mines on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture and held its own event there the following day.
After this diplomatic snag, the two leaders are seen confirming the continuation of close communication to maintain momentum for improving the ties.
On Thursday, Ishiba and former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida exchanged views on Japan-South Korea relations.
Sources said that Kishida, who worked to improve the bilateral ties while in power, advised Ishiba that "shuttle diplomacy" between the two countries should continue.
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