Japan will deal sincerely with issues from the past concerning South Korea and work to improve bilateral relations by looking to the future, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Sunday.
In a statement issued on the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and South Korea, Aso also called for continued cooperation on multilateral issues of common concern, including the North Korean nuclear issue.
"Japan seriously takes to heart the sentiments of South Korean people involving the past and will sincerely deal with various issues originating from the past from a humanitarian standpoint," Aso said.
"We believe that in the process of making such efforts, mutual understanding and a relationship of trust for building a future-oriented Japan-South Korea relationship will be reinforced," he added.
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