Japan's Abe: better relations with South Korea
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he hopes a meeting with his U.S. and South Korean counterparts on North Korea will mark a turning point in Japan's relations with South Korea.
Diplomatic ties between Asia's two wealthiest democracies have been badly strained due to South Korea's lingering resentment over Japanese misconduct in World War II. That worsened after Abe's December visit to a major shrine that honors Japanese war dead.
At a news conference on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in The Hague, Abe said, "I hope to make this the first step toward a future-oriented relationship."
Tuesday's meeting between Abe and South Korea's Park Geun-hye will be the first time the two leaders have met in person.
