Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and new South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol have affirmed close communication between their governments as a way to improve bilateral ties.

At the start of their meeting on Tuesday in Seoul, Hayashi handed Yoon a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

Yoon expressed hope of working with Kishida to improve ties, and of meeting him at an early date.

Hayashi stressed the urgency of improving relations in the current international situation, when order based on rules is under threat.

To that end, he said, wartime labor and other outstanding issues must be resolved.

Yoon said he attaches importance to Japan-South Korea relations, and that he intends to cooperate to make them better.

Hayashi later said the meeting was a crucial opportunity to directly convey Japan's unwavering stance to South Korea's new administration.

Hayashi added he hopes to invite incoming Foreign Minister Park Jin to Japan for talks.