Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon began talks on Thursday with a handshake but no smiles amid a bitter feud over history and trade that has dragged relations to their worst in decades, Trend reports citing Reuters.
Ties between Tokyo and Seoul, two Asian allies of Washington, have deteriorated since South Korea’s top court last October ordered some Japanese firms to compensate Koreans forced to work in their wartime mines and factories.
Japan, which says the matter was settled by a 1965 treaty, calls the decision a violation of international law, and the feud has spilled over into trade and security matters.
About 100 journalists were present at the start of the talks, the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the row flared.