Earlier this month, lawmakers from South Korea visited Tokyo for discussions with their Japanese counterparts, meeting briefly with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in the hope of improving ties.
Participants from Japan were members of the Japan-South Korea Parliamentarians’ Association, while the South Korean visitors were from the South Korea-Japan Parliamentarians’ Association.
As the two countries remain deeply divided over historical issues, these groups play an important role in behind the scenes diplomacy on all aspects of the bilateral relationship for their respective governments.