Park-Abe summit seen as chance to look to future

The first one-on-one talk between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye on Monday - the first Japan-ROK summit since May 2012 - is expected to result in little of substance, but will have a large symbolic impact by signaling the start of reconciliation in East Asia, an Japanese observer said.

Yuki Asaba, an expert in Korean affairs at University of Niigata Prefecture, told Japan Times that relations between the two countries will continue to be difficult, and Japan should get used to the "new normal".

In Japan's eyes, Park has chosen China as a new strategic partner because of its rapidly growing economic and diplomatic presence. China is the ROK's No 1 export destination, accounting for as much as 25.4 percent of shipments in 2014.