South Korea: Japan, South Korea set to agree to boost energy and supply chain cooperation at leaders’ summit.

RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “JAPAN CABINET PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— SHOTLIST ANDONG, SOUTH KOREA (MAY 19, 2026) (JAPAN CABINET PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE - RESTRICTED) 1. JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SANAE TAKAICHI ARRIVING AT AIRPORT 2. VARIOUS OF TAKAICHI BEING WELCOMED DURING OFFICIAL CEREMONYANDONG, SOUTH KOREA - MAY 19 - RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “JAPAN CABINET PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung are expected to agree on strengthening cooperation to ensure a stable supply of energy resources during their summit Tuesday amid global disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, Kyodo News Agency reported. The meeting is taking place in Andong, the South Korean president’s hometown in the country’s southeast, marking the leaders’ third summit and part of ongoing reciprocal visits aimed at deepening bilateral ties. Takaichi arrived at South Korea’s Daegu International Airport on Tuesday afternoon on her two-day visit and traveled to Andong. According to Japanese government officials, the two leaders are also likely to discuss broader economic security issues, including efforts to build more resilient supply chains for critical minerals and other strategic materials. Before departing Tokyo, Takaichi said she looked forward to “deepening discussions” with Lee and achieving “a fruitful outcome toward the further development of Japan-South Korea ties” amid a challenging international environment, including developments in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific. Both countries remain heavily dependent on crude oil imports from the Middle East and have faced growing concerns over energy security following recent disruptions to global shipping routes and tensions affecting key supply corridors. Relations between the two countries had been at their lowest point in decades, largely over disputes involving compensation for alleged forced labor during Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945 as well as other longstanding historical and territorial disagreements. However, ties improved after former President Yoon Suk Yeol announced a resolution to the wartime labor dispute in 2023. That same year, reciprocal visits by the two countries’ leaders resumed after a suspension that had lasted since 2011. The two leaders previously met in January in Takaichi’s hometown of Nara, and officials noted that this is the first time both have visited each other’s hometown regions as part of diplomatic engagements. Following their talks, Takaichi and Lee are expected to hold a joint press conference.