South Korea and Japan have learned to keep historical disputes from derailing their diplomatic thaw, but they have made less progress on the politically costly agreements that would make closer ties more durable.

That gap was on display as both countries marked the 81st anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender on Aug. 15.

President Lee Jae Myung called for deeper cooperation with Japan on supply chains, energy and advanced industries while stressing that stronger ties must rest on trust and an honest reckoning with history.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, meanwhile, avoidedan explicit expression of “remorse” in her