Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's special envoy met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Seoul on Monday, delivering a handwritten letter from Abe. During the meeting, Moon warned Japan to be cautious when making remarks about bilateral ties, especially when discussing the wartime issue of "comfort women."

The South Korean president said relations between the two countries have been hindered by historical issues, which need time to be resolved.

According to South Korean sources, Moon apparently urged Japan to uphold the spirit of a 1993 statement by then-Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono, who at the time acknowledged the involvement of the Japanese military in recruiting comfort women. However, the Japanese government has not commented on the details of Moon's remarks.