Expectations rose Wednesday for a breakthrough on a long-standing dispute over wartime labor compensation between Japan and South Korea as Taro Aso, former prime minister and a veteran lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party met with President Yoon Suk-yeol for talks in Seoul.

Aso, a close ally of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, had been expected to discuss possible plans for a foundation funded by contributions from South Korean companies to pay compensation for wartime labor to plaintiffs on behalf of Japanese corporate defendants.

After their meeting, South Korea's presidential office said that Yoon had asked Aso to help promote the development of bilateral relations by working to increase people-to-people exchanges.