Senior diplomats of South Korea and Japan discussed ways to advance bilateral relations ahead of a key anniversary next year and agreed to work together to produce "tangible" results that would be felt by their peoples, Seoul officials said Thursday. The talks took place between First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano, a day after the two sides held a trilateral meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. Thursday's dialogue marked the first such talks since Okano took office as Japan's top diplomat under the leadership of new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. "The ministers agreed to push for various projects to mark next year's 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations and reaffirmed the commitment to producing tangible efforts that can be felt by the peoples of both countries," Seoul's foreign ministry said in a release. The two sides noted the importance of keeping close communications on pending issues in order for the bilateral ties to move forward. They also discussed North Korea's recent nuclear threats and hostile acts toward the South, and reaffirmed the need for close coordination together, and with the United States, their mutual ally, to respond to the North's provocations. Source: Yonhap News Agency