South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has affirmed that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's recent admission that his “heart hurts” for those who suffered as wartime labourers under Japan's colonial rule was positively received in South Korea. The statement took place on Sunday at a meeting between the two leaders on the fringes of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, and was the third such meeting between the two men this year.
Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, and South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, have visited a World War II memorial in Hiroshima, in an attempt to continue the warming of ties between the two countries. The visit comes ahead of their third bilateral summit this year.
The G7 summit in Hiroshima has ended with discussions focusing on the Ukrainian war and the dominance of China. They also focused on challenges facing developing economies, including Brazil, Vietnam, Comoros and India. Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy made headlines during his time the summit. He was present in the session on Ukraine where it was revealed he had spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. His itinerary for the rest of the day included visiting the Peace Memorial Park and the museum in Hiroshima to remember the atomic bombing of the city. Zelenskyy continues to make the rounds of G-7 leaders. Earlier on the second day of the summit, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the president on the margins of the summit for the first time since Russia's invasion of the Ukraine and shared images of their encounter to his Twitter page.
The final day of the Group of Seven (G7) summit has passed in Hiroshima, with delegates including Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelenskyy discussing the war, China’s dominance and the issues faced by the Global South. Joining the leaders were a number of key Asia-Pacific figures such as the Indian, South Korean, Indonesian and Australian prime ministers. The triennial met throughout the summit, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took some time off to visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and Museum. President Joe Biden met with Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister for talks. The G7 laid out a common de-risking path on China, while India's Narendra Modi commented that he would “amplify concerns of the Global South” at the summit.
Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida and his South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk-yeol, have visited a cenotaph in Hiroshima that honours Korean victims of the 1945 atomic bombing, in the first such joint visit by the two countries. The two leaders visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, laid white bouquets at the cenotaph, and bowed together at the site. Yoon later said that the “courageous” visit would “pave the way for a peaceful future” while expressing grief over the Korean victims of the atomic bomb. Kishida described the visit as “very meaningful for bilateral ties and also in praying for world peace.” The trip was immediately followed by a summit between the two countries. They agreed upon the joint visit to the memorial during their meeting in Seoul.
The leaders of Japan and South Korea held their third bilateral summit this year in the city of Hiroshima. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was in town for the Group of Seven summit, and he and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited a World War II-era monument to those who died in the 1945 atomic bombing of the city, which includes a separate monument to Koreans who lost their lives. The visit shows the warming of relations between the two nations.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have visited a Korean memorial in Hiroshima, as the two countries attempt to repair relations soured by Japan's wartime activities. This is the first time a South Korean leader has visited the memorial. Yoon, who met Kishida for the third time in two months, stated that he hoped to strengthen cooperation in areas such as global issues, "based on our deep relationship of trust". Ties between the countries have improved since March, after Yoon announced a local fund to compensate some of the former labourers.
The Ukraine conflict was at the forefront of G7 meetings in Hiroshima, Japan, over the weekend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the invitees to the meetings, which discussed China's growing dominance and issues affecting the so-called "Global South." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed the need for a "resilient and diversified" approach to supply chains, while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commented on the summit's significance for consolidating peace. Meanwhile, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for the issue of nuclear weapons to be discussed openly, and said it was "historically significant" for the G7 leaders visiting the Peace Memorial Museum to publish a focus on nuclear disarmament – known as the Hiroshima Vision. The G7 summit heralded a number of warm bilateral meetings, concluding with talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on the conflict on Sunday afternoon.
Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, has pledged Japan's "unwavering solidarity" to Ukraine and condemned Russia's invasion, as part of his final speech at the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Kishida spoke at the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima on the final day, calling Moscow's invasion of Ukraine an affront to the international order and no attempts to change the status quo by force will ever be accepted. Kishida has used his time as G7 host to raise awareness of nuclear war risks, repeatably calling for a world free from the possibility of nuclear war.
The Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan has ended, with discussions centring around the Ukraine war, China’s growing dominance and support for the “Global South”. According to a communique, the G7 nations have agreed to support public-private initiatives to swerve China's “belt and road” initiative, to implement measures to counter state-backed “malicious cyber activities”, and to decarbonise energy systems by the end of the century. The G7 also signed a declaration committing to the protection of international maritime regulations, including the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes, navigation rights, and safety along sea lanes. G7 leaders expressed concern over the situation in the East and South China seas. The summit also saw the invitees from Indonesia, South Korea, India and Australia discuss issues such as Ebola, the impact of Brexit, terrorism and trade. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine was in the spotlight throughout the summit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received positive feedback after his speech and calls for support at the three-day G7 summit last week. US President Joe Biden revealed an additional $375m military aid package for Ukraine, as other G7 leaders committed to further support for Ukraine as it rises above its war-torn past. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also joined to express support by referencing the symbolic importance of hosting the summit in Hiroshima, where the dropping of atomic bombs nearly erased the city and its inhabitants. Japan’s unwavering support for Ukraine — in contrast with other Asian countries who have refrained from condemning Russia’s 2020 invasion — has increased its profile as mediator and gained Kishida domestic popularity. The summit also marked a rare occasion for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage with Zelenskyy and address the conflict. Experts highlight the importance of united action against the common challenges posed by China and Russia as member states work to translate their collective policy consensus into action.
Japanese youths tuning in to G-7 summit coverage on video-sharing site Niconico have been commenting on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's similarities to Tom Cruise and President Joe Biden being a grandpa. They have also been discussing more serious topics, including the war in Ukraine and China's economic influence, but Niconico offers a more immersive experience in which the text comments scroll over the footage itself rather than being positioned to the side. The website's coverage of the summit reflects its development from a niche platform for anime fans and gamers to a broader political and sports site.
The G7 summit in Japan failed to convince three emerging economies, Brazil, India and Indonesia, to endorse its views on Ukraine. Brazil, whose former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was invited to the summit, declined to meet Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and privately criticised the alliance’s stance in the Ukraine conflict. Indonesian President Joko Widodo offered to be a peace envoy after meeting Zelenskiy separately. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also endorsed a diplomatic solution. The interaction highlighted the G7’s difficulties in persuading major emerging nations to impose sanctions against Russia, and the difficulties of maintaining a global principle based on territorial integrity. A strategy was adopted before the summit to avoid pressuring invitees to condemn Russia.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is hosting the G7 summit in Hiroshima, has found himself with a unique dilemma as he has to balance his vision of a world without nuclear arms with the widespread fears of aggression from Japan’s nuclear-armed neighbours. Kishida has been pushing for a pacifist constitution and a world free of nuclear weapons, but is faced with threats from North Korea and China, which are both rapidly expanding their nuclear arsenals. Kishida has already shown Japan’s solidarity with Ukraine, which faces Russian aggression, but is still trying to maintain his overall vision of peace for Asia-Pacific.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has become a fan of okonomiyaki, a savoury Japanese pancake, during his trip to Hiroshima for the Group of Seven (G7) leaders summit. Okonomiyaki is a heaped mound of batter, cabbage, noodles and often meat that is fried on a hot plate and then smothered with savoury sauce. It is the subject of fierce regional rivalry in Japan, with ingredients being layered and mixed in different ways depending on the region. Sunak, who tried okonomiyaki with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, said the Hiroshima style were the best.
