South Korea and Japan vow to improve ties

South Korean and Japanese leaders spoke of improving ties between the nations Monday, The New York Times reports. The countries just hit their 50-year anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, but over the past few years, the relationship has been fraught with tension dating back to Japan's colonization of Korea in the early 1900s.

"What is important is to ensure that circumstances are put in place that allow us to free ourselves of the heavy burden of history, our single greatest impediment, in the spirit of reconciliation and harmony," South Korean President Park Geun-hye said at a Japanese embassy ceremony for the anniversary in Seoul. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a similar event in Tokyo.

The U.S. has encouraged Japan and South Korea, both allies, to strengthen ties and hold a summit meeting, but none is scheduled yet.

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