With overtures on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit reportedly spurned and denials that a meeting is planned during the Olympics, Tokyo and Seoul appear unlikely to repair their soured ties any time soon.
Relations between the neighbors faltered yet again Tuesday as Japan’s top government spokesman denied a media report that South Korean President Moon Jae-in was arranging a trip to Tokyo for the Olympics and talks with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
The widely read Yomiuri daily reported earlier in the day that Moon’s administration had been coordinating with the Japanese government on the visit, and that Tokyo had been receptive to the idea.