Japan and South Korea are getting friendlier. At last
As the world economy fragments, two export powerhouses see the virtue of chumminess
![Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (L) interacts with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240601_LDP502.jpg)
Not long ago, relations between Japan and South Korea were dismal. Between 2018 and 2021 they bickered over compensation for Japan’s abuse of Koreans as forced labourers during the second world war. Tit-for-tat trade curbs and boycotts of goods followed; intelligence-sharing was put at risk.
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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Friendlier, at last”
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