Steve Herman
VOA ^[1]
Feb 13, 2013

TOKYO — North Korea’s latest nuclear test appears to have thawed, at least temporarily, the chilly relationship between South Korea and Japan.

The leaders of Japan and South Korea are pledging to work together to impose tougher sanctions on Pyongyang a day after North Korea announced it had detonated its third nuclear device.

The Japanese prime minister and the South Korean president held their first telephone conversation since Shinzo Abe returned to power in Tokyo in late December.

Japanese officials say Abe and President Lee Myung-bak talked for 20 minutes Wednesday and also agreed to coordinate closely with Washington in dealing with North Korea.

Full article here ^[1]