South Korea's Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon meets with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, October 24, 2019, (Photo: Kyodo/via REUTERS

This is the first high-level meeting between Tokyo and Seoul since relations between Tokyo and Seoul deteriorated to their lowest in decades since South Korea’s top court last October ordered some Japanese firms to compensate Koreans forced to work in their wartime mines and factories.

Shinzo was quoted by Reuters as telling Lee that Japan and South Korea are important neighbors for each other, and that keeping in contact over North Korea, bilateral relations, and their ties with the United States are quite important. Their relations are currently in quite a severe state but should not be left that way, Shinzo added.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that Lee, who was in Tokyo to attend Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement ceremony this week, said both sides agreed to improve ties and emphasized the importance of cooperation to address North Korea issues. Lee delivered to Shinzo a personal letter from South Korean President Moon Jae-in but didn’t reveal any details. It was assumed that the South Korean president described Japan in the letter as a key partner for regional peace.