SEOUL (Kyodo) Prime Minister Taro Aso and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak agreed Monday to work closely to address the global financial turmoil, curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions and cooperate on the reconstruction of Afghanistan, leaving aside their historical and territorial rows.

To set the foundation for their shuttle diplomacy, the two leaders also agreed Lee would visit Japan this year "when the timing is right," Aso told a joint press conference after their summit held at the presidential Blue House in Seoul.

"The leaders of Japan and South Korea have never met so frequently and deepened cooperation on such a wide range of areas," Aso said.