What Happened: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae In have met on the sidelines of a summit bringing together the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its three dialogue partners, Japan, China and South Korea, The Japan Times reported Nov. 5. Both leaders reaffirmed that their countries should resolve bilateral issues through dialogue, but Abe later called on Seoul to rectify recent South Korean court rulings on wartime compensation, alleging that they violate international law.
Why It Matters: The meeting was the first face-to-face interaction between the leaders since the G-20 summit in June, although the two sides remain entrenched in their positions, and public sentiment in South Korea and Japan suggests there is little support for resolving the ongoing dispute.
Background: An intelligence-sharing pact between Japan and South Korea is set to expire Nov. 25 after Seoul said it wouldn't extend the agreement to retaliate against trade restrictions that Tokyo imposed in July.
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