President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea and Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba are set to have their first in-person meeting on the sidelines of upcoming regional gatherings in Laos. The meeting is scheduled to take place next week during a series of meetings involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Both leaders are expected to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in addressing North Korean threats and other common challenges. The planned summit follows an initial phone conversation between Yoon and Ishiba, during which they emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation and coordination with the United States in dealing with the evolving threats posed by North Korea. The meeting in Laos is seen as an opportunity for the two leaders to further solidify their partnership and explore avenues for continued collaboration in the face of regional security challenges.