Japanese, South Korean top diplomats agree to defuse tensions

Japan and South Korea agreed Saturday to work toward a de-escalation of tensions that have flared over wartime historical issues as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties, Kyodo news agency reported.
"Despite difficult issues between the two countries, we confirmed that we will continue communicating at various levels in order to strengthen our cooperation," Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters after meeting in Seoul with his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung Se.
Kishida said he agreed with Yun to make the 50th anniversary "significant" for the two countries.