Tokyo- Japan is targeting early July for the first meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and new South Korean President Moon Jae-in, after Abe and Moon's envoy on Thursday agreed to realize an early fence mending summit.

The two countries are at odds over their December 2015 agreement to "finally and irreversibly" resolve the issue of comfort women, who were forced to serve as prostitutes for Japanese soldiers before and during World War II. Moon, who took office last week, pledged to renegotiate the comfort women accord during his presidential campaign.

Meanwhile, Abe requested the full implementation of the deal during his first telephone talks with Moon since his inauguration.

Abe is putting cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States before the comfort women issue, given elevated tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the new president's conciliatory attitude toward Pyongyang, informed sources said.

The South Korean envoy, Moon Hee-sang, also appeared to prioritize Tokyo-Seoul cooperation over the comfort women issue during Thursday's meeting with Abe in Tokyo. (Jiji Press)