Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi on Thursday congratulated Park Jung Soo, newly appointed South Korean foreign and trade minister, on his posting and suggested the two hold an early meeting.
Over the telephone, the two agreed to meet soon to try to improve relations, which have been deteriorating amid the deadlock over a bilateral fisheries pact, Foreign Ministry officials said. Obuchi and Park did not set a venue or date for the meeting during their 15-minute conversation, but have earlier hinted they might meet by the end of this month partly to prepare for the first meeting early next month between Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Kim Dae Jung when they attend the second summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting in London.
Obuchi told Park that he hopes to promote close consultations to establish a new, stronger partnership between Japan and South Korea for the 21st century despite difficult issues between the two countries, according to the officials.
Park responded positively to Obuchi's proposal, saying Kim places importance on relations with Japan and the United States, the officials said. The bilateral relationship deteriorated when Japan decided in late January to unilaterally terminate the 1965 fisheries pact.