Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Thursday expressed hope that the recent thaw in ties between Japan and South Korea will continue despite his counterpart facing a backlash at home for his temporary declaration of martial law.
Yoon faces growing pressure to resign after his short-lived martial law declaration Tuesday night caused domestic turmoil and sent shockwaves beyond democratic South Korea. Opposition parties in the country are seeking to impeach the president, who took office in 2022.
Japan’s top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said Japan and South Korea are “important neighbors” who can jointly tackle global challenges as partners.
“We are closely monitoring developments in South Korea with particular and grave concerns,” Hayashi, who is chief Cabinet secretary, told a regular press conference.
Japan will decide on how to proceed with relations with South Korea “appropriately” depending on how the situation develops, he said.
