ANKARA

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke by phone with South Korea's newly elected President Lee Jae-myung on Monday to discuss bilateral relations, the Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported, citing an anonymous government source.

It was the first contact between the two leaders since Lee took office on Wednesday.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the possibility of their first face-to-face meeting, with Ishiba emphasizing the importance of dialogue and cooperation as "partners" in addressing global challenges.

Ishiba is expected to attend the G7 meeting beginning Sunday in Canada. While South Korea is not a member of the G7, the presidential office has announced that Lee has accepted Canada's invitation to participate in the multilateral huddle.

Despite obstacles stemming from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, ties between Tokyo and Seoul significantly improved under the administration of Lee's predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted over his aborted martial law attempt in December.

*Writing by Aamir Latif