Japan, S Korea leaders mark 50 years of diplomatic ties with call for 'future-oriented relationship'

Tokyo

THE leaders of Japan and South Korea have both spoken of the need for a "future-oriented relationship" between their countries in the coming years, in speeches delivered on Monday on the 50th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic ties between Tokyo and Seoul.

The ceremonies marked what appears to be the start of a thaw in relations between the two sides, although Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun Hye have not met formally since Mr Abe took office in late 2012, and Ms Park, the following year.