U.S. welcomes signs of improved S. Korea-Japan ties

The U.S. government on Monday welcomed the concrete moves by South Korea and Japan to improve their long-chilled ties.

"We believe that good relations among countries in the region promote peace and stability and are in their interests and in the interests of the United States," a U.S. State Department official said.

The official made the response to a South Korean media outlet`s request for comment on plans by the leaders of South Korea and Japan to attend ceremonies at their embassies marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties. In addition, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, on his first-ever visit to Tokyo since taking office, agreed with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, to smoothly resolve the controversies over Tokyo`s bid to list some of its wartime industrial complexes as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

On Friday, U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby told a news briefing, "We have long said that stronger cooperation is welcome." Noting that there are so many security issues in Asia that require "teamwork and cooperation," Kirby said, "Certainly, we look for opportunities, and we welcome opportunities where that cooperation and dialogue can continue."

Washington has called on Seoul and Tokyo to reconcile on history issues and cooperate with each other in order to jointly respond to China`s expansion and North Korea`s nuclear and missile programs. In the Hague, the Netherlands in March last year, U.S. President Barack Obama tried in person to create an atmosphere for dialogue between South Korea and Japan, arranging a three-way summit among the U.S. and the two Northeast Asian neighbors.

kyle@donga.com