Pakistan’s relations with East Asian countries are determined by “Vision East Asia Policy” which was launched in 2003. Its objectives are:

• Strengthening bilateral relations with frequent high-level visits.
• Establishment/regular meetings of institutional mechanisms.
• Cooperation at international for a on core issues.
• Pakistan’s effective partnership with regional organizations.
• Promotion of trade and investment.
• Cooperation in defence and counter terrorism.
• Enhance cultural ties and people-to-people contacts.

Japan:

Diplomatic relations with Japan were established on 28th April, 1952. Pakistan and Japan share multi-faceted and longstanding bilateral ties rooted in people-to-people contacts and extensive business linkages. The mainstay of bilateral relations has been economic, with Japan being a key development partner and a major investor in Pakistan. Over 100 Japanese companies conduct business with Pakistan and have made longstanding investments in Pakistan. Bilateral mechanisms: Bilateral Political Consultations; High Level Economic Policy Dialogue; Joint Government Business Dialogue and Security Dialogue. Total bilateral trade between the two countries is around US $ 1.1 billion with Pakistan exporting Cotton Yarn, Woven Fabric, Crustaceans, Rice and importing automobiles, Iron, Textile Machinery, Auto Parts from Japan.

Republic of Korea:

Despite formal diplomatic relations between Pakistan and South Korea being established in 1983, both countries enjoy deep-rooted historical linkages dating back to 384 A.D. when Monk Maranantha brought Buddhism to the ancient kingdom of Baekje from Swabi in Pakistan. He travelled across China, arriving at Bop Seongpo in Yong-gwang province in the Baekjae Kingdom. The city hosts a memorial and Museum in his honor, highlighting his Gandhara roots. Mechanisms of Bilateral Consultation that exist between Pakistan and the Republic of Korea are: Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) at Foreign Secretary level; Joint Trade Committee (JTC); Joint Defence Committee on Logistics & Procurement; Korea - Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group; Employment Permit System (EPS) and Climate change Dialogue. Total bilateral trade between the two countries stood at over US $ 1 billion in 2023. Pakistan exports Cotton, Petroleum, Clothing, Ethyl Alcohol, Seafood, Building Materials, Leather, Medical devices, sports goods, man-made staple fiber while imports are: automobile, iron and steel, Plastics, Tanning dyeing extract, Machinery, Organic chemicals, volume fuels and oils, electrical machinery, Pharmaceutical, Aluminium. Korean enterprises have been involved in many landmark projects and have become household names including DAEWOO. South Korea is also a choice destination for employment for expatriate Pakistanis with annual recruitment running into hundreds. Around 13,000 Pakistanis are living in Korea and many are employed under Employment Permit System (EPS) System. Korean development agencies, notably KOICA, have also been regularly undertaking development projects with Pakistani counterparts which has increased the goodwill between both friendly countries. Republic of Korea has provided support and assistance to Pakistan at several occasions to combat COVID-19, to respond to locust infestation, for rehabilitation of Afghan Refugees and for IT Park in Karachi. 

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea:

In 1968, DPRK established its Consular Mission, and the relations were upgraded to Ambassadorial level in 1972. Currently, Pakistan’s Mission in DPRK is closed, however, DPRK continues to maintain its Mission in Pakistan. Pakistan is fully implementing the UNSC Resolutions. Applied sanctions on DPRK are suspension of flights of Air Koryo, sanctions on trade and commerce, monitoring of activities and bank accounts of DPRK diplomats and very strict visa rules even for DPRK diplomats. Pakistan consistently supports nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula, as agreed in 1994 Framework Agreement and reaffirmed in the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. Bilateral trade between Pakistan and DPRK is almost non-existent due to sanctions.