Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (Photo: AFP)

It was the first exchange of visits between the leaders of the two Asian neighbors in 12 years. 

The focus of the Japan-South Korea summit will revolve around security cooperation amid growing concerns about North Korea's nuclear program. The Washington Declaration reached recently during President Yoon Suk-yeol's visit to the United States outlined plans to strengthen South Korea's expanded deterrence capabilities, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation with Japan.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry official said that the two countries have many opportunities to cooperate on the North Korea issue and to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region. However, historical differences between South Korea and Japan are also expected to affect the blossoming relationship between the two countries.