A delegation of lawmakers and policy experts dispatched by South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol arrived in Japan on Sunday for five days of meetings with business leaders, top officials and possibly Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, with all eyes on whether the two sides can show off at least some progress in defrosting bilateral ties.
But laying the groundwork for improved relations is almost certain to be an uphill battle.
Although Yoon and Kishida’s teams have already stressed aligning views in terms of responding firmly to the North Korean nuclear and missile threat, it’s unclear if they will be able to overcome significant obstacles that pose far more serious challenges to the relationship, including festering wartime history and trade issues, observers say.