The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Seoul

Japan and South Korea, putting aside thorny historical and territorial disputes, agreed Monday to work together on issues ranging from combating recession to rebuilding Afghanistan.

After an hour of summit talks, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and President Lee Myung-Bak vowed to develop a "future-oriented, mature partnership," Seoul's presidential office said.

"It is unprecedented that leaders from Japan and South Korea see each other so often and agree to cooperate in broad areas like this," Aso told a joint news conference afterwards.

He and Lee have met every month since October at diplomatic events.

Relations have often been strained by territorial disputes and lingering bitterness at Japan's harsh 1910-1945 rule over Korea.

The leaders said the two countries would resume working-level talks on a possible free trade agreement.

The discussions and other issues had been in limbo since 2004, due to repeated visits by then-Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi to a controversial Tokyo war shrine.

On Monday the leaders "did not touch on any issues on history," Aso said.

"There have been difficult times (in the relationship) due to various reasons, but when we look back we see there was never a time when we moved backward, though there were times when we wavered," Lee said.

But analysts warned the new relationship may be more fragile than anticipated.

"They just shelve pending issues because of the time" of economic difficulties, said Hidekazu Kawai, professor at Tokyo's Gakushuin University.

"If some politician makes a gaffe, the new relationship would fail altogether."

Aso has in the past angered other Asian countries by praising elements of Japanese imperialism. But since becoming prime minister he has tried not to irritate neighbours.

He and Lee also agreed to closely coordinate policies to counter the global downturn threatening both their economies.