South Korean National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han met virtually with his Japanese counterpart on Thursday, discussing North Korea's provocations and the need to establish future-oriented bilateral ties, according to his office.
For the first time since entering office last week, Kim held video conversations with Takeo Akiba, secretary-general of Japan's National Security Secretariat, according to media reports.

In a press release, his office stated, "The two sides exchanged ideas on the recent situation in North Korea and North Korea's actions toward provocations, regional concerns, and international matters, such as the situation in Ukraine."  The two also talked about "the importance of developing future-oriented relations between South Korea and Japan," the report adds.

Kim and Akiba agreed that there is a lot of opportunity for cooperation between South Korea and Japan, as well as trilaterally with the US, in the increasingly complicated Northeast Asian region and international issues, and committed to keep constant contact between their offices, according to the statement.

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