A surreal drum duet between two East Asian world leaders has set the internet abuzz – and put a spotlight on Japan and South Korea’s diplomatic relationship.Decked out in matching blue jackets, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday played drums to the beats of K-pop hits – including Dynamite by BTS and Golden from hit film KPop Demon Hunters.The performance, a nod to Takaichi’s past life as a drummer in a heavy metal band, wrapped up Lee’s official visit to Japan this week.It’s also part of Lee’s diplomatic overtures to regional powers including Japan, with whom South Korea has a fraught history but shares a security alliance.The drumming session from Tuesday, which Lee described as “a little clumsy”, has now spawned a viral video.During Lee’s visit to Nara, Takaichi’s hometown, he gifted the Japanese prime minister a drum set. The two leaders also exchanged signed drumsticks after their performance.”When we met at APEC last year, [Lee] said it was his dream to play the drums, so we prepared a surprise,” Takaichi later wrote on X.Footage of the jam session has won praise on social media.”Music seems to have the power to connect hearts at a deeper level than words ever could,” one X user wrote in Korean. “Exchanges like this may be quiet, but they will surely help move relations between Korea and Japan forward.”There have long been sore spots between the two neighbours, including historical grievances from Japan’s colonial rule and territorial disputes.But both countries are allies of the US, and have worked together to counter China’s increasing assertiveness in the region.On Tuesday, Takaichi said in a statement that cooperation between Japan, South Korea and the US has become increasingly important amid heightened tensions in the region’s “strategic environment”.Lee and Ta …
