South Korean and Japanese finance ministers agree to strengthen economic ties.

South Korea and Japan's finance ministers have reached an agreement to strengthen economic cooperation in areas such as bilateral currency swap agreements and key mineral supply chains. South Korean Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki and Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso expressed concerns about the excessive depreciation of their respective currencies and confirmed the need to take measures to address market fluctuations. The two finance ministers emphasized the importance of regional financial safety nets and bilateral financial cooperation, and agreed to further discuss specific steps.