Pakistan, June 9 -- SEOUL - South Korea's newly elected President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held their first official phone call on Monday, agreeing to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance regional cooperation. The 25-minute conversation marked an important step toward rebuilding trust and stability in Northeast Asia.

During the call, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working closely on key security issues, especially concerning North Korea. President Lee, known for his pragmatic approach, emphasized the importance of continuing three-way cooperation with Japan and the United States to address shared regional challenges.

President Lee told Prime Minister Ishiba that geopolitical issues should be...