hankyoreh

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Monday urged Japan to have a correct recognition of the shared history in order to foster future-oriented bilateral relations.

During a meeting with visiting Japanese politicians, including former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, Roh said lawmakers of both countries are required to make greater efforts to resolve bilateral conflict over history issues.

"South Korea-Japan relations are very crucial to the construction of a new cooperative order in Northeast Asia," Roh said at the meeting.

Seoul and Tokyo have long been at odds over numerous historical issues, with critics saying Japanese history textbooks in particular whitewash Japan's atrocities against its Asian neighbors before and during World War II.

The Japanese politicians are visiting South Korea to open their annual joint assembly with South Korean lawmakers in Seoul Monday to discuss regional issues like North Korea's nuclear weapons program and the possibility of a free trade agreement between Seoul and Tokyo.

The Japanese politicians shared the view that October's inter-Korean summit would further accelerate denuclearization trend on the Korean Peninsula, promote the North's opening and contribute to peace and stability in the region.
SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap)