WASHINGTON (Reuters) – South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong said he would meet his Japanese counterpart on Thursday and hoped for progress to end a dispute that has led to tit-for-tat trade restrictions.

Chung informed the Council on Foreign Relations that he will hold a bilateral meet with Toshimitsu Mokoegi, Japan’s Foreign Minister. This was after he participated in Wednesday’s trilateral meeting between Antony Blinken and the U.S Secretary of State.

Chung stated that Japan was a close friend and shared the same values in democracy, freedom, economic growth, human rights, and all other things. So, Japan is our close friend. Unfortunately, however, there are some disagreements about how we view the past.

Two important U.S. allies are now at odds due to a historic dispute over Japan’s 1910-1945 occupation Korea.

This dispute, which has been raging for years over Japan’s 1910-1945 occupation of Korea has threatened the security cooperation and export controls between neighbors. However, they also face the threat of North Korea, better known as DPRK.

According to a senior U.S. State Department official, regular meetings have been held over the last six months between U.S. diplomats as well as counterparts from South Korea or Japan in order to strengthen ties.

The U.S. official stated that the meeting was warm and friendly, and highlighted the fact that they tried to think through the DPRK’s recent launch and other issues.

The forum has become a place that focuses on common goals and does not aim to break ice.

Chung indicated that Seoul was confident the issue could be settled through dialogue.

Chung stated that it was unfortunate trade restrictions have been caused by political disagreements and hoped they could be resolved quickly. Seoul might otherwise need to take them to the World Trade Organization.

According to him, “Koreans believe that Japan and Korea will find a way to normalize relations between Koreas and Japan.”

Chung, Motegi and others met at the G-7 summit in Britain in May. However, they were not able to reach an agreement.