Japan's newly-appointed defense minister has expressed a willingness to meet with his South Korean counterpart Jeong Kyeong-doo.
Taro Kono said in an interview with a local outlet on Wednesday that bilateral cooperation is important to counter threats from North Korea.
He also expressed discontent with South Korea's top court's decision that ordered Japanese companies to compensate victims of Tokyo's wartime forced labor, as it came at a time when bilateral ties could have taken a leap forward.