Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and South Korean President-elect Roh Moo Hyun agreed Thursday to build future-oriented bilateral relations in the wake of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's contentious visit this week to Yasukuni Shrine and amid the North Korean nuclear standoff.
Japanese officials said Roh expressed regret over Koizumi's visit Tuesday to Yasukuni, but quoted him as adding: "It's not good for exchanges to be suspended whenever there is a problem. The past is important, but the future is much more important . . . to build future-oriented relations."
Kawaguchi and Roh agreed their countries would aim to find a peaceful solution to North Korea's nuclear program through trilateral cooperation with the United States, the officials said.