The prime ministers of Japan and South Korea, together with members of their cabinets, have begun two days of talks aimed at enhancing co-operation on security, economic and cultural issues.

The talks, in the southern town of Kashogima in Japan, follow last month's commitment by the Japanese premier, Keizo Obuchi, and the South Korean President, Kim Dae-Jung, to begin high-level dialogue to improve their relations.

The BBC Seoul correspondent says the two sides are trying to overcome the legacy of the beginning of the century, when Japan colonised Korea, forcing its men to fight on the Japanese side during the Second World War and its women to be prostitutes for Japanese soldiers.

The two sides signed an agreement permitting fishing in each other's territorial waters.