米韓同盟強化で一致　対日関係の「改善重要」―首脳会談

　【ソウル時事】バイデン米大統領と韓国の文在寅大統領は４日、電話会談し、米韓同盟の強化で一致した。約３０分間のやりとりの中で、北朝鮮問題に関して「緊密な協力」を確認したほか、元徴用工問題などで悪化が続く日韓関係については「改善が重要だ」との認識を共有した。
　両大統領の電話会談は、１月２０日のバイデン政権発足後初めて。
　韓国の発表によると、双方は「韓日関係の改善と韓米日協力が地域内の平和と繁栄に重要だ」と明言。今回の電話会談で日韓関係修復の必要性を申し合わせたことで、文氏は今後、具体的な取り組みを迫られそうだ。（2021/02/04-18:44）

U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed in telephone talks Thursday that it is important to improve Japan-South Korea ties, as well as maintain Japan-U.S.-South Korea cooperation, for regional peace and prosperity.
   The agreement came amid worsened relations between the two Asian neighbors including over the issues of wartime labor and "comfort women" wartime prostitutes.
   Following the accord, the South Korean side is expected to face pressure to take concrete actions to mend fences with Japan.
   During the talks, the two leaders also affirmed their countries' cooperation to resolve issues on North Korea, according to a South Korean presidential press secretary.
   Biden and Moon held telephone talks for the first time since Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20.