South Korea on Tuesday renewed calls for Japan to take "specific actions" to set the mood for a summit between their leaders.
"To resolve issues, I stress Japan should take specific actions with sincerity," South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young said at a press briefing. "Talks, not for the sake of talks but for yielding a productive outcome, should be held."
Cho's remarks were made amid mounting speculation South Korea and Japan may seek a summit on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in the Netherlands scheduled for March 24 and 25.
"If Japan shows a sincere attitude and an atmosphere is created for constructive talks, there is no reason not to hold talks (with Japan)," Cho said.
President Park Geun-hye reacted positively over the weekend to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's promise to honor past statements of apology for its 1910-1945 colonial rule of Korea.
Park welcomed Abe's assurance his administration will not retract a 1993 apology for forcing women into sexual slavery during World War II. Seoul is "glad" about Abe's remark, she was quoted as saying by a presidential spokesman.