Seoul: The volatile international landscape, compounded by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, is bringing South Korea and Japan closer together, making their bilateral cooperation increasingly essential, Japan's top envoy to Seoul said Friday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima emphasized the importance of collaboration between the two nations in light of global shifts. These include Russia's war in Ukraine and its growing relations with North Korea, which are significantly influencing Seoul-Tokyo relations.

Mizushima, speaking at a forum through an interpreter, highlighted the increasingly unstable global environment. He stated that the evolving international scene necessitates cooperation between Japan and South Korea as two like-minded countries.

Drawing from his previous experience as ambassador to Israel, Mizushima underscored the importance of coordination between the United States and other major nations to quickly alleviate tensions in the Middle East. He emphasized that this collaboration is crucial for the international community and for Japan and Korea, both of which rely heavily on the region for oil imports.

On a bilateral level, Mizushima encouraged Seoul and Tokyo to continue focusing on areas where progress has been noted, such as increased tourism and people-to-people exchanges, reflecting warmer relations. By maintaining this momentum, the two countries can expand their partnership into broader areas, including security and the economy.

Regarding South Korea's potential involvement in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Mizushima mentioned that Japan would respond appropriately if Seoul formally declares its intent to join. The CPTPP is a multilateral trade pact led by Japan, involving nations such as Britain, Australia, and several Southeast Asian and Latin American countries, covering about 15 percent of the global economy.

South Korea is considering joining the CPTPP but has not yet reached a decision. Joining the pact would likely require Seoul to lift its import ban on Japanese seafood and open its agriculture market, a contentious issue in Korea.