Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set to undertake a two-day official visit to South Korea beginning 19 May, Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki confirmed on Thursday, 14 May. The visit centres on energy security and critical mineral supply chains, as global commodity flows face disruption from the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Key Agenda Items

Takaichi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, focusing on two pressing areas: ensuring energy security and reinforcing supply chains for critical minerals — both of which have come under strain amid disruptions to crude oil shipments linked to the Iran conflict. The discussions reflect a shared urgency between the two economies, both of which are heavily import-dependent for energy and industrial raw materials.

Shuttle Diplomacy at Lee's Hometown

The two leaders are reportedly expected to meet in Andong, the southeastern city that serves as President Lee's hometown. This follows an established bilateral practice of leader-level reciprocal visits, commonly referred to as shuttle diplomacy. The format was last activated in January, when Lee visited Japan and held a summit in Takaichi's hometown of Nara Prefecture. Andong would complete the reciprocal leg of that exchange.

ACSA Talks: Japan Pushes, Seoul Holds Back

Beyond economic issues, Japan is reportedly seeking to advance talks on an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) — a bilateral logistics-sharing pact that facilitates the exchange of food, fuel, transportation, and supplies during contingencies. The push follows a two-plus-two security meeting of defence and foreign vice ministers held in Seoul on 7 May, according to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun.

However, Seoul has pushed back. A South Korean defence ministry official stated on 8 May that the country is not considering signing a bilateral military logistics agreement with Tokyo. 'We are not considering the signing of an ACSA between South Korea and Japan,' the official said. The official added: 'The South Korean government continues to pursue stable and future-oriented defence exchanges and cooperation with Japan based on mutual respect and trust.'

Broader Context

The Takaichi-Lee summit comes at a moment of renewed momentum in Japan-South Korea ties, which spent much of the past decade mired in disputes over wartime history and trade restrictions. The shuttle diplomacy framework — revived under their respective leaderships — signals a pragmatic reset, even as the ACSA divergence underscores that security cooperation remains politically sensitive in Seoul. With China's influence in the region expanding and US alliance frameworks under pressure, both capitals have an interest in deepening coordination, though domestic politics in each country constrain how far and how fast they can move.