A Japanese daily says President Lee Myung-bak will likely visit Japan in mid-December.

Quoting multiple diplomatic sources, the Asahi Shimbun reported on Friday that Lee is expected to visit Japan on December 17th and 18th for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

The visit would mark Lee's first official visit to the neighboring country since June 2009 when he held talks with former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso although Lee attended multilateral gatherings held in Japan thereafter.

The Japanese paper said that Lee has not responded to Japan’s invitation for a state visit citing political confusion in Japan, but wants to restore the two neighbors' “shuttle diplomacy” in a bid to avoid a deterioration in bilateral relations.

The daily said that attention is being drawn on whether Lee would raise the issue of compensation for Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Army during World War Two if Lee does make a visit.