North Korea strongly denounced the recent meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Officials in Pyongyang described the talks as a diplomatic farce designed to ease Washington’s concerns. The sharp remarks show once again how North Korea slams Japan’s summit diplomacy when Seoul cooperates with Tokyo.
According to the statement, Seoul aimed to reduce misunderstandings with Washington rather than achieve genuine progress with Japan. Pyongyang called the summit a staged event built on political anxiety. It accused Lee of acting primarily to reassure the United States rather than focusing on Korean interests.
Furthermore, North Korea accused President Lee of taking a pro-Japanese position during the talks. Officials claimed his actions reflected a desire to demonstrate loyalty to Washington. They argued that Lee’s “pro-Japanese creed” would escalate instability across the region.
During the summit, Lee and Ishiba emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral ties. They also highlighted the value of trilateral cooperation with the United States for peace and stability. However, North Korea dismissed these statements as an attempt to use security as a bargaining tool.
Pyongyang claimed that Lee acted as a scout for advancing military cooperation among the United States, South Korea, and Japan. It warned that such moves directly threaten the Korean Peninsula. Moreover, it declared that North Korea would not remain a passive onlooker while others pursue hegemony in the region.
This criticism underscores North Korea’s long-standing opposition to trilateral defense frameworks. It views expanded security cooperation as a direct challenge to its sovereignty and survival. Therefore, its leadership portrays such summits as provocations rather than diplomatic breakthroughs.
The timing of the statement proved significant. It came just before President Lee traveled to Washington for his first meeting with US President Donald Trump. Observers believe Pyongyang aimed to cast doubt on Seoul’s reliability as a partner by attacking its diplomacy with Japan.
Ultimately, North Korea slams Japan’s summit efforts because they strengthen cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington. Pyongyang insists that such ties undermine peace and fuel instability. By framing its adversaries as aggressors, North Korea continues to defend its own actions as necessary for security.
