FOCUS: Pragmatic Japan-S. Korea ties needed to address Trump policies, China clout

ANDONG, South Korea - Experts say the time has come for Japan and South Korea to adopt a more pragmatic approach to their bilateral relationship, given the common challenges they face, such as the unilateralist tactics of U.S. President Donald Trump and the growing military and economic clout of China.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative, stressed the unchanged positive trajectory of the bilateral ties during a meeting Tuesday in South Korea with President Lee Jae Myung, previously regarded as a hard-liner toward Japan.