LEADERS from Japan and South Korea agreed to deepen bilateral co-operation between the two nations in the face of a “challenging” environment, as they met in Tokyo on Saturday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung discussed defence, economic security and the common social issues faced by both nations, such as low birth rates.

This was the first time a South Korean president has chosen Japan for their inaugural bilateral visit since 1965, when diplomatic relations were normalised between the two countries.

Mr Ishiba said: “Amid the increasingly challenging strategic environment surrounding both countries, the importance of Japan-South Korea relations and co-operation between Tokyo, Seoul and Washington is growing.” 

“I believe this in itself carries very important meaning, showing how much importance we place on South Korea-Japan relations,” Mr Lee said.

Mr Ishiba added that “there are difficult issues that exist as we're neighbouring countries,” adding “We will [still] continue to pursue consistent policies.”

Relations between the two countries have been strained over territory disputes and the use of forced labour by Japan during its occupation of the Korean peninsula during the 20th century.

But the neighbouring countries have drawn closer in recent years, as they followed the United States line of hyping up a supposed North Korean nuclear threat.