Japan's newly-appointed defense minister has expressed a willingness to meet with his South Korean counterpart Jeong Kyeong-doo.<br /> Taro Kono said in an interview with a local outlet on Wednesday that bilateral cooperation is important to counter threats from North Korea. <br />He also expressed discontent with South Korea's top court's decision that ordered Japanese companies to compensate victims of Tokyo's wartime forced labor, as it came at a time when bilateral ties could have taken a leap forward. <br />
