For Kishida, the meeting will be a chance to highlight Japan’s commitment to its alliance with the U.S. as well as mending ties with South Korea.
The decision was seen as a self-inflicted blow to hopes of a more visible U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific amid its competition with China in the region.
The talks set for Thursday will focus on the two countries’ alliance, the Ukraine war and regional security, and will set the stage for a trilateral leaders' meeting with South Korea.
The U.S, leader is “expected” to travel to the atomic-bombed city for the summit after earlier saying he could skip it or attend virtually amid ongoing talks over the federal debt limit.
While Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Koji Tomita confirmed that discussions have been taking place on how to strengthen Tokyo’s partnership with NATO, he did not elaborate on the details.
Japan will instead aim for the grouping to release a “strong message” on the issue of nuclear weapons, likely in its joint statement.
The move would improve Japan's detection capabilities as nuclear-armed North Korea continues to fire off missiles at an unprecedented clip.
While Fumio Kishida and Yoon Suk-yeol will look to bask in the success of a fruitful summit in Seoul, the Japan-South Korea relationship remains fragile.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Sunday, becoming the first Japanese leader to conduct an official bilateral visit to Seoul in over 12 years.
The prime minister has expressed his desire for Japan to show that it is also invested in the neighbors’ rapprochement, with the trip to South Korea expected to highlight that resolve.
