A veteran Japanese lawmaker has asked South Korea to take positive steps toward resolving the issue of wartime labor.

Former finance minister Fukushiro Nukaga met South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon in Seoul on Saturday. Nukaga chairs the Japan-South Korea parliamentarians’ union.

Japan has been asking for the establishment of an arbitration panel on the wartime labor issue which includes a third country. June 18 is the deadline for membership appointment.

Nukaga said both sides each have positions, but they should discuss the issue in an effort to resolve the issue.

The two confirmed the necessity of promoting the talks to improve bilateral ties.

Nukaga later told NHK that improving ties between Japan and South Korea is extremely important as international relations, including those in East Asia, remain extremely uncertain.

He said he and Lee agreed that discussions should continue in a broad perspective.