“We want South Korea could have a strong relationship with China, just as we want to have a strong relationship with China”, Obama spoke before holding a bilateral meeting with visiting ROK President Park Geun-hye in the White House.

Speaking on a visit to Washington, Park also said she was open to a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but stressed the importance of progress on the issue of so-called “comfort women”- sex slaves forced to work in Japan’s wartime military brothels.

“It will be an important occasion to pursue peace and stability in North-east Asia, as well as to improve Korea-Japan relations”, she said.

Before leaving for her current trip to the United States, Park defended the move toward state-issued textbooks by saying history classes must inspire “pride” in students for being South Korean citizens.

To address Washington’s concerns, Abe expressed “deep remorse” for the last war in his April speech to the U.S. Congress. In addition, he made a reference to Japan’s apology for the conflict in his closely watched statement marking the 70th anniversary of the end World War II in August.

South Korea’s Han Min-Koo and his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani will hold talks on Tuesday ahead of a trilateral leadership dialogue involving the two countries and China, the defence ministry in Seoul said.

He said the USA had gone to great lengths to support better relations between Japan and South Korea.

A senior Japanese government official said the dates of the Abe-Park and Abe-Li talks would be either October. 31 or November 1.

Such moves also come in line with USA efforts to develop multiway cooperation in the region, such as through the ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit, she said.

She did not elaborate on what she meant by “progress”.

Park, the president, is the daughter of slain military dictator Park Chung-hee, who ruled South Korea in the 1960s and 70s, and whose legacy as a successful economic strategist is marred by brutal records of civilian oppression. “Having already signed trade agreements with 10 of the 12 TPP member countries, I believe Korea is a natural partner for the TPP”, she said.

The summit between Park and Obama in Washington on Friday demonstrated that the alliance between South Korea and the United States was solid and their commitment to resolve the North Korean nuclear standoff was unwavering.