Kishida, who is set to step down later this month, made the remarks on his social media platform X on Saturday, following his two-day visit to Korea.
"I sincerely thank President Yoon and First Lady Kim," Kishida wrote. "I hope you will continue to work towards further developing Japan-Korea relations."
Kishida emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation with Korea, describing it as a "crucial neighbor" in the face of shifting international dynamics. He noted that 2025 will mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
"When I took office as prime minister, relations with Korea were in a very difficult state, but through decisive action by President Yoon and myself, we were able to achieve a historic improvement in Japan-Korea relations," Kishida said, adding that he has now held 12 meetings with Yoon since reviving shuttle diplomacy.
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