Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) aim to deepen security and economic ties to counter growing tension in Northeast Asia, their leaders said after a January 2026 meeting in Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and ROK President Lee Jae-myung discussed industrial supply chains, artificial intelligence, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and cooperation with mutual ally the United States. “The importance of Japan-South Korea relations, as well as cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States, continues to grow,” Takaichi said in a joint statement.
The leaders discussed the challenges presented by North Korea’s regime, which is under international sanctions for its illegal weapons programs, and agreed to cooperate to achieve the North’s complete denuclearization. Japan, the ROK and the U.S. launched an 11-nation team to monitor sanctions enforcement against North Korea in October 2024. Australia and New Zealand also participate.
Lee called the international environment “unprecedentedly volatile,” saying “it is an urgent task of our time to deepen bilateral relations.”
He said Seoul and Tokyo also will step up cooperation to combat online scams that target victims across borders. The ROK recently agreed to work with Laos to counter the crime networks, which threaten regional security. Scam operators are believed to have enslaved tens of thousands of workers lured with the promise of good-paying jobs in online sales and information technology. Instead, the workers are forced to trick victims into investing in schemes involving fake business portfolios, nonexistent cryptocurrency, false tax bills and romantic relationships.
Scams caused global losses exceeding $63.9 billion in 2024, including $16.6 billion from U.S. citizens. Proceeds fund drug, arms and sex trafficking, according to the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
About the Author
