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By APD writer Alice
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks with his South Korean counterpart Lee Nak Yon on October 24, in an effort to resolve tensions between the two sides over wartime history.
The meeting, considered the highest-level dialogue between the two countries in more than a year, was closely watched for hopes to create an improvement in bilateral relations. However, the two PMs made little progress during the meeting, only agreeing on the need to continue the dialogue.
According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Abe told Lee that South Korea should "keep its promises" under the accord to give the neighboring nations a chance to return to a "healthy relationship".
Meanwhile, the South Korean PM said his country welcomed what had reached during the meeting and will continue to promote bilateral dialogue.
Despite the opposing views, the two leaders agreed that the countries cannot leave the strained ties unaddressed as they are important neighbors.
On the occasion, Lee, who attended Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony on October 22, handed Abe a letter from South Korean President Moon Jae-in calling Japan an "important partner" in maintaining peace in Northeast Asia.
Bilateral ties became frosty after South Korea's top court last year ordered Japanese firms to compensate for forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 through the end of World War II in 1945, despite Tokyo's claim the issue was settled by a 1965 agreement.
It led to Japan’s removal of South Korea from a list of trusted trade partners and impose stricter control on exports of some products that are important for South Korea’s semiconductor industry. In reply, Seoul also removed Tokyo from its own list of trusted partners.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
