"Ishiba, coordinating your visit to Korea in January next year...First visit to foreign countries in bilateral diplomacy"

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is coordinating a plan to visit South Korea in January next year and hold a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported, citing multiple government officials.

The Yomiuri Shimbun said the visit to Korea is likely to be in early January next year before the regular Japanese National Assembly convenes.

He then explained that if the schedule is confirmed as it is, South Korea will be the first country Prime Minister Ishiba visits for bilateral diplomatic purposes, showing importance to South Korea.

However, Japanese government spokesman Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to answer in a morning press conference, saying no decision had been made on Ishiba's foreign visit.