Japan, S.korea Fms Agree To Speed Up Talks To Resolve Disputes
The foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea have agreed to accelerate talks on resolving pending issues between the two countries to improve relations.
Hayashi Yoshimasa and Park Jin met on Thursday in Cambodia, where foreign ministers' meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are taking place. This was the second time they have held talks.
Japanese foreign ministry officials say Hayashi and Park have agreed to speed up talks with the aim of resolving historical issues involving wartime labor and those referred to as comfort women.
The officials also say Hayashi lodged a protest over South Korea's recent military drills near the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan and South Korean research ships spotted sailing in the area.
South Korea controls the islands. Japan claims them. The Japanese government says South Korea is illegally occupying the islands.
The ministers also confirmed that their countries, along with US, will jointly deal with North Korea. They say the North's test launches of ballistic missiles are an obvious challenge to international community.