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Japan and South Korea have pledged to work towards the celebration of half a century of normal diplomatic ties, the latest in a series of moves to thaw relations.
"We will make efforts so that we will be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic normalisation in a warm atmosphere," Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told South Korean First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yong.
"There are very difficult issues between South Korea and Japan," Cho replied, but added: "We hope to make next year the year the relationship will start to develop."
The 10-minute meeting came after talks between foreign ministers last week, and has been seen as the latest sign that the neighbours were trying to put years of bitter disputes behind them.
Ties have soured over the familiar theme of their disputed shared history, and over what Seoul says is Tokyo's reluctance to accept full responsibility for 35 years of colonialism up to 1945.

The coming to power in December 2012 of nationalist Shinzo Abe, who Seoul accuses of being a revisionist, complicated things, especially with his visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honours 2.5 million war dead, including war criminals. Seoul also reacted angrily to a move to review the apology over its war-time brothels.
Since taking office, Abe has visited dozens of foreign countries including all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but has yet to visit South Korea or China.
Under US pressure, he and South Korean President Park Geun-hye met in March with US President Barack Obama, but have not met since. A summit had been an annual ritual for the two countries until 2012.
Kishida and his South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se, last week held talks on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York, discussing Japan's war-time military brothel system.
On Wednesday, Cho and his Japanese counterpart Akitaka Saiki discussed "various issues", North Korea and cooperation involving China, the ministry said.


Japan, South Korea agree to work towards warmer ties 

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida (left) shakes hands with South Korean First Vice-Foreign Minister Cho Tae-Yong  prior to their talks in Tokyo on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (centre) is led by a Shinto priest as he visits the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo in this December 2013 file picture. Photo: Reuters

China, Japan and S Korea agree to foreign minister talks despite lingering tensions   

South Korean Foreign minister Yun Byung-se (center) meets with Chinese vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin (right) and Japanese deputy foreign minister Shinsuke Sugiyama during the 9th trilateral senior foreign affairs officials' consultation in Seoul. Photo: Xinhua

South Korean Foreign minister Yun Byung-se (C) meets with Chinese vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin (R) and Japanese deputy foreign minister Shinsuke Sugiyama during the 9th trilateral senior foreign affairs officials' consultation in Seoul. Photo: Xinhua

South Korea protests Japan’s review of ‘comfort women’ apology

South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong (right) and Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Bessho Koro at the foreign ministry in Seoul. Photo: Reuters

Japan and South Korea take different approaches to North Korean kidnap victims

Kim Young-ja holds a photograph of her abducted brother, Kim Young-nam, (right in picture) taken during a reunion in 2006. Photo: Reuters

Megumi Yokota, then said to be aged 13, is shown after her abduction. She would later marry Kim Young-nam but commit suicide. Photo: Reuters

Japan's business lobby head wants to foster ties with China, South Korea

Sadayuki Sakakibara was formally appointed as chairman of Keidanren - the Japan Business Federation.

Shinzo Abe’s Yasukuni Shrine offering angers China and South Korea

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows in front of Emperor Akihito at a ceremony marking Japan's surrender. Photo: Reuters

Japanese men clad in old military uniforms march to pay respect to the country's war dead at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Friday. Photo: AP

Japan's Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshitaka Shindo leaves after visiting the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

A young girl releases a dove for peace and as a tribute to all the war dead during a ceremony at the Yasukuni Shrine. Photo: EPA

News

Asia

Japan and South Korea have pledged to work towards the celebration of half a century of normal diplomatic ties, the latest in a series of moves to thaw relations.


Japan, South Korea agree to work towards warmer ties

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Japan and South Korea have pledged to work towards the celebration of half a century of normal diplomatic ties, the latest in a series of moves to thaw relations.

Japan and South Korea have pledged to work towards the celebration of half a century of normal diplomatic ties, the latest in a series of moves to thaw relations.