Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye held a summit in Tokyo on Friday that marked a thaw in relations between the two countries, which have long been strained by historical disputes.
During the meeting, Abe and Park agreed to work together to resolve a decades-long dispute over the sovereignty of the South Korean-controlled Dokdo/Takeshima islands, which are claimed by both countries.
The two leaders also agreed to set up a joint committee to discuss ways to improve bilateral relations, and to hold regular meetings between their foreign ministers.
The summit was the first between the two countries since 2012, when Park took office. It was seen as a sign of improving relations between the two countries, which have been strained by Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean peninsula in the early 20th century.
The two leaders also discussed security issues, the situation on the Korean peninsula, and the efforts to peacefully resolve North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. They also discussed economic cooperation and signed a series of agreements related to trade and investment.