Overcoming historical mistrust between Japan and South Korea.

Welcome to VOA Asia Weekly. I'm Chris Casquejo in Washington. That story is coming up, but first, making headlines…

Another delegation of U.S. Congress members visited Taiwan’s parliament Monday in a further sign of support among American lawmakers. China responded with more military exercises.

The United States military said on Tuesday that it had carried out a test of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The test was delayed to avoid escalating tensions with Beijing during China's show of force near Taiwan earlier this month.

The U.S. and Taiwan agreed to start trade talks under a new initiative, saying they want agreements with "economically meaningful outcomes." The talks are expected to take place early this fall.

A court in military-ruled Myanmar convicted ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on more corruption charges. She was sentenced to an additional six years in prison in a closed-door ruling in which her lawyers were forbidden by a gag order from revealing information about the proceedings.

Bangladesh’s foreign minister told the visiting U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet that there are no cases of enforced disappearances or extrajudicial killings in the country. Rights activists and families of victims said the government’s claim was completely untrue.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol offered "audacious" economic assistance to North Korea if it starts to take actions to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Yoon said if North Korea genuinely commits to a process of denuclearization, the South will respond with huge economic rewards in phases.

Yoon's proposal wasn't meaningfully different from previous South Korean offers that North Korea has already rejected.

Two days later, however, North Korea launched two cruise missiles off the west coast. This is the first missile launch from Pyongyang in two months, sparking fears of a potential nuclear missile test.

South Korea’s president also said he wants closer relations with Japan to face common threats in the region. As Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA, the change of approach has been welcomed in Japan, but overcoming historical mistrust may prove difficult.

Marking the 77th anniversary Monday of his country’s liberation from Japanese rule — and the end of World War II — South Korea’s president called for better relations with Japan.

“Today, Japan is our partner as we face common threats that challenge the freedom of global citizens. When Korea-Japan relations move toward a common future and when the mission of our times align, based on our shared universal values, it will also help us solve the historical problems.”

Those historical problems have long weighed on relations between Seoul and Tokyo. The two countries dispute the ownership of islands in the Sea of Japan.

South Korea wants greater atonement from Japan for its conduct during colonial rule — including the use of forced sex slaves, known as “comfort women,” during World War II.

Speaking on the anniversary of his country’s surrender in 1945, Japan’s prime minister said he would uphold Japan’s constitutional pledge to never again repeat “the horrors of war.”

“In a world where conflicts are still unabated, Japan, under the banner of proactive pacifism, will do its utmost to work together with the international community to resolve the various challenges facing the world.”

Alongside U.S. forces — seen here conducting military drills — Japan and South Korea took part in missile intercept exercises off Hawaii earlier this month.

Japan and South Korea see common threats in the region — but with different perspectives.

“The question is, when it comes to China, South Korea does not feel as we [Japan] do. We are facing a land power threat from the continent to the waters in our part of the world.”

Despite the common threats, analysts say it will be difficult for South Korea and Japan to overcome decades of mistrust.

Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, Tokyo.

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Finally, teams of Indonesians formed human ladders to reach prizes hanging from the top of slippery trees in an annual competition celebrating the country's Independence Day.

The game is called Panjat Pinang, which means 'climbing palm trees.’

Thanks for watching VOA Asia Weekly. Until next week.