All eyes on South Korea's bilateral summit with Japan

Seoul says meeting slated for this week in NY, in bid to reset ties after historical, trade spat

- Chang May Choon

SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has embarked on a seven-day trip to Britain, the United States and Canada, but it is his first-ever bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this week that observers are keenly watching.

The two sides are set to meet on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Mr Yoon is set to deliver his first address this Tuesday.

Officials said he will outline his vision for increasing solidarity among democratic countries and underscore South Korea's commitment to working with its allies to build peace on the Korean peninsula and jointly respond to North Korea's nuclear threats.

While in New York, he will meet US President Joe Biden to discuss issues such as concerns over how the recently passed US Inflation Reduction Act could impact South Korean carmakers by excluding them from US subsidies.