Seoul, Tokyo officials meet amid disputes over trade, history, diplomacy

고조되는 韓•日 갈등 속 양국 외교국장 29일 회동...양국 문화장관도 만나<br /><br />Foreign ministry officials from South Korea and Japan met in Seoul today.<br />While this is a regular meeting both sides have once every few months, it comes at a critical time when the two neighbors are locking horns over diplomatic and trade issues.<br />On the same day, culture ministers from both countries also sat down for talks.<br />Yoon Jung-min has the details.<br />Foreign ministry officials from South Korea and Japan met in Seoul on Thursday for the first time since Tokyo removed Seoul from its whitelist of trusted trading partners.<br />The foreign ministry's director-general for Asian and Pacific affairs Kim Jung-han sat down with his Japanese counterpart Kenji Kanasugi for bilateral talks.<br />Seoul's foreign ministry said the two sides discussed a range of issues... including the forced-labor issue.<br />Kim expressed regret over Japan removing South Korea from its whitelist and asked Tokyo to reverse the decision,... while once again urging dialogue.<br />The official also delivered Seoul's concerns over Japan's plan to discharge contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean and asked for updates on the matter.<br />Kanasugi, meanwhile, expressed regret over Seoul's decision to end the military intel-sharing pact with Tokyo,... and asked Seoul to reconsider.<br />The Japanese diplomat also met his other counterpart on nuclear negotiations, Lee Do-hoon, after the meeting with Seoul's foreign ministry.<br />On the same day, the culture ministers from Seoul and Tokyo also met for talks.<br />South Korean Culture Minister Park Yang-woo sat down with his Japanese counterpart Masahiko Shibayama for bilateral talks in Incheon.<br />The talks were held ahead of the annual three-way culture and tourism meeting between Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo, which will be held on Friday.<br />Though it is a difficult time for Seoul-Tokyo relations in terms of diplomacy and trade,... both ministers agreed on the need for cultural exchanges between citizens and discussed ways to promote cultural events.<br />Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.<br />