Photo/Illutration Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, left, visits his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, on Jan. 13 in Seoul. (Provided by Japan’s Foreign Ministry)

SEOUL—Top Japanese and South Korean diplomats reaffirmed the importance of bilateral cooperation on Jan. 13 here a week ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration to the U.S. presidency for a second time. 

In a meeting, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, emphasized the significance of trilateral cooperation with the United States as well, particularly on security issues.

Iwaya stressed that he would communicate to the new U.S. administration the increasing importance of its strategic coordination with Japan and South Korea, the two key U.S. allies in the region.

Cho emphasized the need to continue institutionalizing trilateral cooperation, which has seen progress made under the outgoing administration of Joe Biden.

Iwaya, who is scheduled to attend Trump’s inauguration in Washington on Jan. 20, is also arranging a meeting with Marco Rubio, the incoming U.S. secretary of state.

The two ministers also shared growing concerns about military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, particularly in light of Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The meeting marked the first bilateral visit to South Korea by a Japanese foreign minister in nearly seven years.

For South Korea, the meeting served to display its diplomatic stability, despite internal political turmoil in Seoul following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law last month.

“It is vital to show, both domestically and internationally, that Japan and South Korea will continue to work closely together,” Iwaya said.

In response, Cho thanked Iwaya for his visit, stating that true friends are those who stand by one another in times of difficulty.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea.

In recognition of this milestone, both ministers pledged to promote exchange programs for young people between the two countries.

They also agreed on the importance of holding a trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting with China in the near future.

Iwaya is also scheduled to meet with Choi Sang-mok, South Korea’s acting president and deputy prime minister, on Jan. 14.

In celebration of the 60th anniversary, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was scheduled to visit Seoul earlier this month, but the trip was canceled due to the ongoing political turmoil in South Korea.

(This article was written by Narumi Ota, a correspondent in Seoul, and Shino Matsuyama.)