A senior U.S. diplomat handling relations with South Korea and Japan said Tuesday he is confident the two Asian allies will ultimately find a solution to long-running tensions over historical issues as both sides understand the strategic interests they have in improved ties.
  

Amb. Sung Kim, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan, made the remark during a Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation seminar, saying he would not characterize the current status of relations between Seoul and Tokyo as an impasse.
  

Despite tensions, Seoul and Tokyo have been working closely together on issues like the North Korean nuclear issue and three-way defense cooperation with the United States while at the same time trying to address "difficult issues from the past."
  

As a friend and ally to both countries, the U.S. is trying to encourage both sides to make "serious and sincere efforts to address each other's concerns because there is just so much at stake," Kim said, adding that he believes the South and Japan understand such strategic interests they have in improved relations.
  

"I have confidence that these two great countries, these two great democracies, responsible countries will find a way to deal with the difficult issues from the past," he said.
  

Kim, who doubles as special representative for North Korea policy, said the only way for Pyongyang to end its isolation is by abiding by its denuclearization commitments. The U.S. will continue to apply multilateral and unilateral pressure on the North to make the strategic decision, he said.
  

Earlier in Moscow, South Korea's chief nuclear envoy Hwang Joon-kook said that there is a consensus among all five members of the six-party denuclearization talks with North Korea on the need for "exploratory talks" with Pyongyang before formally starting the negotiations.
  

Asked about Hwang's remark, Kim said the U.S. position has always been the same that it is "ready to meet, engage North Korea on the issue of denuclearization." (Yonhap)