Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Oct. 19 met with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak in Seoul at the Blue House. By choosing South Korea as the first country to visit as prime minister for a bilateral diplomatic meeting, Mr. Noda signaled to Seoul that he gives importance to the ties between Japan and South Korea.
Both leaders agreed to accelerate working-level consultations so that talks for forging a bilateral economic partnership agreement will be resumed at an early date. But Mr. Lee did not make any further commitment.
The talks started in 2003 but were suspended in 2004. South Korea fears that with an EPA with Japan, South Korea's trade deficit with Japan will increase because it greatly relies on Japanese parts for such products as cars and electronic machines. Japan on its part was lazy in pushing the talks. Japan should make serious efforts to resume them.