Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has met South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul in his first visit to South Korea since taking office.

Yoon opened Sunday's meeting by saying Kishida is the first Japanese prime minister to visit South Korea in 12 years, and his trip to Japan in March was the first in 12 years by a South Korean president.

Yoon said that although it took 12 years to resume what they call "shuttle diplomacy," the mutual visits show that bilateral ties have made a fresh start and are progressing speedily.

He said he feels responsible for creating an era of bilateral ties that are even better now than they were during the good times in the past.

Kishida said he is very pleased to visit Seoul when the city is filled with new green leaves and to fully resume the "shuttle diplomacy" of mutual visits so soon after meeting Yoon in Tokyo in the spring.

He said he wants to exchange opinions on the development of bilateral ties as various forms of dialogue have taken place dynamically since the last summit in March less than two months ago.

Kishida also said he wants to discuss the latest situation in the Indo-Pacific, including issues involving North Korea, and cooperation in addressing global issues ahead of this month's G7 summit in Hiroshima.

The two leaders were expected to agree to increase bilateral security cooperation to address such issues as North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs.

The summit agenda is also likely to include economic security cooperation in semiconductor production and export controls between the two countries.

The leaders are also expected to share information on the implementation of the South Korean government's plan to settle a wartime labor issue.

Kishida is expected to coordinate with Yoon ahead of trilateral talks with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima.(NHK)