Photo: Reuters

The Foreign Ministers of Japan and South Korea agreed to strengthen relations at the 12^th strategic dialog between the two countries held on Thursday in Tokyo. This was the first senior dialog since both countries elected new leaders last month - Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Prime Minister, and Park Geun-Hye, South Korea’s President. According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, both sides are seeking a way to strengthen the Japan- South Korea relationship. Deputy Foreign Minister Chkao Kawai of Japan and Ahn Ho-young of Korea agreed that the two countries share “basic values and interests”. Kawai suggested bilateral cooperation to build a “future-oriented” relationship although “difficult problems occasionally occur”. He said Japan and South Korea will continue close consultations under their new governments. The two diplomats also agreed to maintain and strengthen their cooperation with the United States in dealing with North Korea.