South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun said Tuesday he hopes new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will develop future-oriented relations with Seoul and promote regional cooperation in Northeast Asia, the Blue House presidential office said.
Roh expressed the hope in a congratulatory message to Abe, the office said.
Relations between Japan and South Korea have soured due mainly to Japanese leaders' visits to Yasukuni Shrine.
An unidentified official from the presidential office, meanwhile, called on Japan to put words into action to improve the strained relations.