Ottawa - Saba:
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada on Tuesday, the presidential office announced.
Lee was sworn in earlier this month after winning the snap presidential election on June 3, and his visit to Canada is his first international engagement since taking office.
A planned meeting between the South Korean president and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, was postponed due to Trump's early departure from the summit, according to National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac, who noted that Washington has asked Seoul for 'understanding'.
Lee held talks on Monday with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This diplomatic move comes as Seoul is engaged in expert-level negotiations with Washington over tariffs, seeking to reach an agreement that is crucial for South Korea's export-driven economy, particularly in sectors such as microchips, automobiles, and shipbuilding.
President Lee, a leftist, is known for his pragmatic approach to foreign policy, emphasizing his commitment to continuing security cooperation with Japan and the United States.