South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, center left, and his wife Kim Hea Kyung, center right, arrive at the Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in his first full summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on Saturday, stressed the importance of setting aside differences and cooperating in common areas as the leaders showcased their efforts to develop friendly ties.

The neighbors face common challenges from the United States, their mutual ally, and Lee’s visit to Japan may help him prepare for his crucial first summit in Washington on Aug. 25 with U.S. President Donald Trump , mainly on trade and defense issues.

Japan and South Korea can cooperate in many areas, but also have conflicts because they are so geographically close,

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