Japan, S. Korea Premiers Meet As Part Of Kishida's "Condolence Diplomacy"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo today as both leaders sought to make progress in defusing bilateral tensions over historical disputes.

• "South Korea and Japan are close neighbours and important cooperative partners who share democratic values and principles of market economy," Yonhap News Agency cited Han as saying.
• Yomiuri Shimbun discussed the meeting as part of Kishida's "condolence diplomacy," with Han among numerous high-level foreign guests attending the funeral of Japan's former Premier Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.
• The newspaper notes that Kishida will meet with more than 30 foreign leaders this week, while Foreign Minister Hayashi is meeting around 20 chief diplomats. Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno will speak with Wan Gang of China's Political Consultative Conference.
• There is still no clear way out of the diplomatic deadlock over wartime forced labour, but Japan and South Korea have intensified efforts to ease tensions, with Kishida holding his first direct meeting with South Korean President Yoon last week.