ANKARA

South Korea and Japan agreed to strengthen cooperation with the US to respond to geopolitical crises, including North Korea, local media reported Wednesday.

The agreement came during a meeting Tuesday between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the Group of 7 (G7) summit in the resort town of Kananaskis in Alberta, Canada, according to Yonhap News Agency.

"They agreed to further develop trilateral cooperation among the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan to respond to various regional geopolitical crises, including the North Korean issue, and to deepen bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Japan," Lee’s office said in a statement.

Relations between South Korea and Japan have historically been strained due to Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Ties began to improve under President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose tenure ended after he was impeached by South Korea’s National Assembly for imposing martial law in December.

"I hope that collaboration and cooperation between Japan and South Korea will become a big driving force for the benefit of our region and the world," Kyodo News Agency quoted Ishiba as saying.

President Lee also met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and discussed ways to step up cooperation in defense, the arms industry, energy security, climate change, artificial intelligence and other areas.

He also met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa and discussed ways to broaden economic cooperation.

It marked Lee’s first visit outside the country and meeting with foreign leaders since he took office on June 4.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid