1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, along with Minister for Foreign affairs of Japan Iwaya Takeshi and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi, paid a joint courtesy call on Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on the evening of March 21, 2025. Following the joint meeting, Minister Cho paid a separate one-on-one courtesy call on Prime Minister Ishiba.

2. Prime Minister Ishiba welcomed the visit of the two foreign ministers, expressing his hope for building future-oriented and cooperative relationships with two of Japan's highly important neighboring countries. He further expressed his expectation for meaningful discussions among the three foreign ministers at the upcoming 11th Korea-Japan-China Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, aimed at enhancing trilateral cooperation.

3. Minister Cho emphasized the importance of ensuring that the momentum of trilateral cooperation, which was revitalized at the 9th Korea-Japan-China Trilateral Summit in May of last year, continues without pause. He noted that in this context, this meeting is particularly meaningful and timely, adding that he will continue to make efforts to maintain this momentum.

4. In the subsequent one-on-one courtesy call, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized that the importance of the Korea-Japan and Korea-U.S.-Japan relations remains unchanged in the current strategic environment. He called for continued cooperation based on mutual trust and respect to maintain and further develop the bilateral relations.

5. In response, Minister Cho stated that in order to maintain the positive momentum of the current Korea-Japan relationship, both countries should make efforts to change themselves first rather than expect the other to change. He also emphasized the need to make utmost efforts to strengthen the Korea-Japan relationship and enhance Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation.