Japan's foreign minister and a senior South Korean official have agreed on the need for more work on improving relations strained by a territorial dispute and lingering historical antagonisms.
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun met Thursday in Tokyo and agreed to continue dialogue on resolving the difficult issues between them.
Speaking after their meeting, Kishida described South Korea as an "important partner and neighbor," while Kim spoke of the need to take a "long and broad view" in improving ties.
Tokyo's ties with South Korea and China have been strained by conflicting claims to islands in north Asia and by the legacy of Japan's occupation before and during World War II.