US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (center) meets with Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (far left) and South Korea's Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong (far right) on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept 22, 2021, in New York. (JASON DECROW / POOL / AP)

WASHINGTON - Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong on Thursday and the two restated positions in a dispute that has brought tit-for-tat trade restrictions, but agreed to accelerate consultations to resolve the issue, Japan's account of the meeting said.

Motegi and Chung met in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers "shared the view on accelerating consultations and communication through the diplomatic channels in order to restore sound ... relations and then to make it possible to cooperate in a wide range of areas," Japan's foreign ministry said in a statement

A historic feud over Japan's 1910-1945 occupation of Korea including over "comfort women", Japan's euphemism for mostly Korean women forced to work in its wartime brothels, has long soured bilateral ties between the two important US allies.

The dispute in recent years has brought tit-for-tat export curbs and threatened security cooperation between the neighbors.

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Japan's foreign ministry said Motegi and Chung reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between their countries in the interests of regional stability.

When it came to the dispute, "Motegi firmly conveyed Japan's principled positions on these issues and renewed his call for (South Korea) to take appropriate actions. Concerning these issues, Minister Chung gave explanations based on (South Korea's) positions," it said in a statement.

At the same time, the ministers "shared the view on accelerating consultations and communication through the diplomatic channels in order to restore sound ... relations and then to make it possible to cooperate in a wide range of areas," it said.

Chung said on Wednesday Seoul believed the issues could be resolved through dialogue.

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He said it was unfortunate trade restrictions had resulted from political differences and he hoped these could be resolved soon, otherwise Seoul would have to bring them before a World Trade Organization panel.

Chung and Motegi met on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Britain in May but did not manage then to narrow their differences.