Japan PM Takaichi eyes South Korea visit for May 19 Andong summit with Lee
Synopsis
J ap an es e PM Ta ka ic hi is re po rt ed ly se t to me et So ut h Ko re an Pr es id en t Le e in Le e's ow n ho me to wn of An do ng on Ma y 19 — a re ci pr oc al ge st ur e mi rr or in g Le e's Ja nu ar y vi si t to Ta ka ic hi 's Na ra. Bu t be yo nd th e sy mb ol is m, th e su mm it co me s as Se ou l fir ml y re bu ffs To ky o's pu sh fo r a mi li ta ry lo gi st ic s pa ct, re ve al in g th e li mi ts of th e tw o na ti on s' di pl om at ic wa rm th.
Key Takeaways
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi is reportedly planning a two-day visit to South Korea starting 19 May .
Summit talks with President Lee Jae Myung are expected in Andong , Lee's hometown, 190 km southeast of Seoul .
Agenda includes energy and critical mineral supply chain cooperation amid the West Asia conflict .
Seoul has ruled out signing an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with Tokyo , citing concerns over Japanese military operations on the Korean Peninsula .
The visit is part of an ongoing shuttle diplomacy framework; Lee visited Takaichi in Nara in January .
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly considering a visit to South Korea on 19 May for a two-day trip, with plans to hold summit talks with President Lee Jae Myung in Lee's hometown of Andong, approximately 190 kilometres southeast of Seoul. Japanese media outlets, citing diplomatic sources, reported the development on Saturday, with Kyodo News among those confirming the expected itinerary.
What the Summit Is Expected to Cover
According to reports, discussions between Takaichi and Lee are expected to focus on economic security cooperation, including energy and critical mineral supply chains, against the backdrop of the ongoing West Asia conflict. The talks are seen as a continuation of deepening bilateral engagement between the two neighbouring nations.
Shuttle Diplomacy in Motion
The proposed visit is the latest move in an ongoing shuttle diplomacy framework between Japan and South Korea. Takaichi last visited South Korea in October, just nine days after assuming office, holding a summit with Lee on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju. In January, Lee reciprocated by visiting Japan and meeting Takaichi in her hometown of Nara Prefecture. The alternating hometown visits add a symbolic dimension to the diplomatic outreach.
Seoul Pushes Back on Military Logistics Pact
Separately, a South Korean defence ministry official stated on Friday that Seoul is not considering signing a bilateral military logistics support agreement — known as an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) — with Tokyo. This came after Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Japan aims to advance such a deal following a
Point of View
But it papers over a substantive fault line: Seoul's firm resistance to an ACSA. Tokyo frames the logistics pact as a North Korea deterrent; Seoul reads it as a potential foothold for Japanese forces on the peninsula — a distinction rooted in history that no amount of shuttle diplomacy can dissolve quickly. The real test of this bilateral reset is not the symbolism of Andong, but whether the two sides can agree on the architecture of security cooperation without reopening wounds that domestic politics on both sides keep raw.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Japanese PM Takaichi visiting Andong specifically?
Andong is the hometown of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, and the visit mirrors Lee's January trip to Takaichi's hometown of Nara Prefecture in Japan. The exchange of hometown visits is a symbolic gesture underscoring the shuttle diplomacy framework the two nations have been building.
What will Japan and South Korea discuss at the May 19 summit?
The summit is expected to focus on economic security cooperation, particularly energy and critical mineral supply chains, amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. Broader bilateral security and trade ties are also likely to feature.
What is an ACSA and why is South Korea reluctant to sign one with Japan?
An Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) is a bilateral pact that facilitates the sharing of logistics, supplies, and services — such as food, fuel, and transportation — between allied militaries during contingencies. Seoul is cautious because it fears such an agreement could allow Japan's Self-Defence Forces to operate on the Korean Peninsula, a historically sensitive issue.
What is shuttle diplomacy between Japan and South Korea?
Shuttle diplomacy refers to the practice of leaders alternately visiting each other's countries to maintain regular high-level dialogue. Takaichi visited South Korea in October 2024, Lee visited Japan in January 2025, and the proposed May visit continues this pattern.
Has South Korea completely ruled out a military logistics deal with Japan?
A South Korean defence ministry official stated on Friday that Seoul is not currently considering signing an ACSA with Japan. The official added that South Korea seeks stable and future-oriented defence exchanges with Japan based on mutual respect and trust, leaving the door open to future dialogue without committing to the specific pact Tokyo is seeking.
