TOKYO -- The Japanese government said it was a 10-minute conversation. The South Koreans said it was 11. Either way, the first conversation between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in 13 months did little to bring the two sides closer.
The brief talks took place in Bangkok against an increasingly precarious diplomatic backdrop. A key intelligence-sharing pact between Japan and South Korea is set to expire on Nov. 22 and the countries' defense cooperation over North Korean missile launches is already showing signs of crumbling.
