S/ Ishiba Shigeru, Japanese Prime Minister / I respect the choice of South Korean people and express my congratulations on the election and appointment (of president). I want to further activate cooperation between Japan and South Korea and between Japan, the United States and South Korea.

Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru made the remarks concerning new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung of the main opposition Democratic Party.

Ishiba touched on the strong words Lee has used against Japan in the past, saying that despite such comments, he will open his heart and work on cooperation toward reinforcing Japan's ties with South Korea.

The Japanese leader said it is preferable for him to hold a bilateral summit meeting with Lee at an early time.

Lee won South Korea’s snap election held on June 3 as his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached after declaring martial law in early December 2024, an event that led to political turmoil in the country over the following six months.