President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Jan. 14 visit Horyuji Temple, a leading cultural heritage site in Japan's Nara Prefecture. (Cheong Wa Dae)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

President Lee Jae Myung told Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during their bilateral summit this week that Korea seeks to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Cheong Wa Dae said on Jan. 14.

National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac told a news conference at a media center in Osaka, "We had discussions on the CPTTP (at the previous summit)," adding, "We reaffirmed our intent to push ahead (with joining)."

The CPTPP is a multilateral free trade agreement launched in 2018 by Asia-Pacific countries led by Japan. In September 2021, Korea officially applied to join the alliance but has seen no progress because Tokyo wants Seoul to lift its ban on Japanese seafood imports as a prerequisite to entry.

"The Japanese side gave an explanation on food safety," Director Wi said. "This issue requires working-level consultations between departments."

Evaluating the latest summit with Japan, he added, "This shows that shuttle diplomacy between the leaders of Korea and Japan, which was resumed in August last year through the president's visit to Japan, has fully settled."

"Among the pressing issues we face is international supply chains," he said. "There was a consensus (during the summit) to cooperate on stable supply chains, an important issue in economic and national security policy."

dusrud21@korea.kr