Japan says the shrine visits were private.
"Each country has its own stance. So I do not believe that these sort of things should affect diplomacy between the countries," stated Yoshihide Suga, Chief cabinet secretary.
Michael Auslin is director of Japan Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. He says this relationship is one of Washington's biggest problems.
"There is a whole host of issues that we talk about at the most very basic level because Japan and Korea can't get together. And it's long overdue for us to get Tokyo and Seoul to work more closely," he said.
He says part of the problem is how Japan approaches its war-time past but both countries should look forward.
"They face the same threats: North Korea in the short term and quite frankly a significant challenge from China in the medium and long term. They must work better together," Auslin said.
Tokyo and Seoul are also at odds over the Liancourt Rocks -- small islands in the Sea of Japan that are currently controlled by South Korea.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25