Suga: Japan and South Korea need to repair ties

Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga. - Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters): Japan and South Korea must cooperate to counter any threat from North Korea, Japan’s new prime minister Yoshihide Suga, told South Korea’s president on Thursday (Sept 24), calling for the uneasy neighbours to repair their frayed ties.

Relations between the two US allies have deteriorated sharply over the past year over war-time history and trade, in particular the issue of Korean labourers forced to work at Japanese firms during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule.