South Korea's foreign ministry on June 10 denied reports that Japan had asked to resume exports of Japanese seafood to South Korea, restricted since 2013, adding that "consumers' confidence in the safety of Japanese seafood must first be restored." This comes after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in a press conference on June 8 that Japan would need to "genuinely" apologize for its World War II actions against Korea to expand military cooperation, adding, "I would be reproached by the people if I spoke openly" about such cooperation.

Since March 2023, under former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, both countries have sought economic and military cooperation, and though Lee has long voiced historical grievances with Japan, he has still expanded cooperation.