GYEONGJU, South Korea — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met in their first summit Thursday, pledging to strengthen ties that have been frequently strained by their bitter wartime history.

Their meeting in South Korea came after both launched charm offensives toward U.S. President Donald Trump, who visited their countries and pressed the two key U.S. allies to complete their massive U.S. investment pledges.

Meeting with Takaichi ahead of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, Lee said South Korea and Japan share common challenges in the face of “rapidly changing international dynamics and trade conditions” and that their future-oriented cooperation was more important than ever.

Takaichi said trilateral coope

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