Japan and South Korea leaders mend fences in visit to Hiroshima memorial

The South Korean president, Yoon Suk-yeol (second left), and Japan's prime minister, Fumio Kishida (second right), lay flowers at a monument to Korean victims of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Photograph: Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, and the South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, have paid their respects at a memorial to the tens of thousands of Korean victims of the atomic bombing, in a further sign of improving ties between the north-east Asian neighbours.

The pair, accompanied by their wives, laid bouquets of white flowers before lowering their heads at the memorial in the city’s peace park on Sunday on the sidelines of the G7 summit, where Yoon is one of several non-member leaders taking part in “outreach” sessions.