The vice foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea have held a strategic dialogue for the first time since 2014. The talks did not take place for nine years because of a diplomatic row between Tokyo and Seoul.

Officials from the two countries in charge of North Korean affairs also joined Thursday's talks in Seoul between Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Okano Masataka and South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin.

Okano and Chang exchanged views on the recent North Korean moves to strengthen relations with Russia, and condemned Pyongyang's provocations using its nuclear and missile programs. They agreed that Japan, South Korea and the United States will work closely together and lead the international community in responding resolutely to the North.

The vice ministers also agreed that their nations will promote cooperation with China. The three countries aim to hold a trilateral summit by the end of the year.

A South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson says Seoul hopes that communication with Japan will be promoted at all levels, and that their cooperation will be further strengthened, as bilateral ties have improved recently.