South Korea, Japan deepen talks on emergency energy supplies

South Korea and Japan held their first meeting in Tokyo on implementing a supply chain partnership, with discussions focusing on ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, Seoul’s Industry Ministry said on September 2.

The two sides agreed to expand cooperation on ensuring stable emergency supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG), crude oil and petroleum products, while also exchanging views on coordinating responses to carbon emissions and supply chain due diligence rules, including the EU’s carbon tariff, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

South Korea and Japan, as the world’s second- and third-largest LNG importers and major crude oil buyers heavily reliant on Middle Eastern supplies, formalised a bilateral Supply Chain Partnership arrangement in March 2026 amid heightened risks from regional conflicts disrupting key shipping routes. 

This was accompanied by an LNG supply-and-demand cooperation agreement between Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) and Japan’s JERA enabling cargo swaps and operational optimisation, later reinforced at a May 2026 leaders’ summit focused on emergency mutual supply of oil, petroleum products, and LNG.

By Jeyhun Aghazada