South Korean President Lee Jae-myung paid his first bilateral visit abroad since taking office, arriving in Tokyo on 23 Aug. He and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba opened a new round of so-called shuttle diplomacy aimed at easing long-standing frictions and shoring up cooperation amid rising regional tensions. After more than two hours of talks, the leaders issued the first joint statement between the two countries in 17 years. The document pledges "future-oriented" and stable relations, calls for closer strategic communication on defense and economic security, and confirms joint work on technology fields such as hydrogen and artificial intelligence. Ishiba and Lee also agreed to expand the working-holiday visa program and to cooperate with Washington on the denuclearization of North Korea, while reaffirming the historical accords that underpin bilateral ties. Lee left Tokyo on 24 Aug for Washington, where he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump on 25 Aug. Lee has said the White House summit will address North Korea, defense cost-sharing and tariff disputes. Trump questioned South Korea’s political stability in social-media posts ahead of the meeting but told reporters the two sides "will have a good conversation" when they convene at the White House.