Newly elected Japanese PM to meet Lee for first time at APEC summit

AP-Yonhap — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (left) reacts with U.S. President Donald Trump, aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington during their visit to the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, Japan on Oct. 28, 2025. Reuters-Yonhap

SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - Japan's newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaich will travel to South Korea later this week to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Japanese media reported on Tuesday.

In a press briefing later in the day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Takaichi, who took office as the island country's first female prime minister last week, will visit South Korea for three days from Thursday, just a day before the summit begins in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, which runs through Nov. 1.

With the two sides still arranging their schedules, her first meeting with President Lee Jae Myung is expected to take place on the day of her arrival.

Takaichi, known as a staunch right-winger, will also hold a series of talks with leaders of other countries during her three-day stay here.

Meanwhile, Lee is scheduled to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday in the southern port city of Busan, about 80 kilometers away from Gyeongju. He is also set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, with the venue to be decided later.

Lee Hugh