South Korea reinstated Japan to its list of preferred trading partners on April 24, marking a step toward improving relations three years after they downgraded each other’s trading status over historical disputes.

The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy said Japan’s return to South Korea’s “white list” of preferred trading partners will shorten the review period for exporting strategic materials to Japan from 15 to five days.

The number of documents required for such exports will also be simplified from five to three, according to the ministry’s public notice. The change took effect on the same day.

This came as South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol prepared for his first state visit to the United States for talks with President Joe Biden, which Washington said will underscore their “ironclad alliance.”

Additionally, the South Korean government also tightened export controls on major industrial goods against Russia and its ally Belarus over Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the ministry stated.

South Korea and Japan removed each other from their respective preferential trade lists in 2019 after a South Korean top court ruling that ordered Japanese firms to compensate wartime forced laborers, causing their bilateral relations to deteriorate.

Concerns over North Korea’s nuclear weapons development have prompted both nations to work to mend their ties. The leaders of both countries agreed to restore bilateral ties at a Tokyo summit in March.

Japanese leader Fumio Kishida said he would lift export controls on key industrial materials to South Korea, while Seoul opted to compensate victims of forced labor with local funds rather than pushing Japanese companies to pay compensation.

In an interview with The Washington Post published on April 24, Yoon spoke about his decision to restore ties with Japan and said he opposed the notion that Japan “must kneel because of our history 100 years ago.”

“Europe has experienced several wars for the past 100 years, and despite that, warring countries have found ways to cooperate for the future,” Yoon told the newspaper.

“I can’t accept the notion that because of what happened 100 years ago, something is absolutely impossible [to do] and that they must kneel [for forgiveness] because of our history 100 years ago. And this is an issue that requires decision. … In terms of persuasion, I believe I did my best,” he added.

Yoon had signaled his wish to improve the relationship between Japan and South Korea after he was elected last year.

At a ceremony to commemorate South Korea’s independence from Japanese rule on March 1, Yoon changed the tone from previous South Korean presidents who have demanded an apology from Japan on this day, and instead of asking for an apology, he signaled a willingness to work with Japan.

“Today, Japan has transformed from a militaristic colonizing power in the past to South Korea’s important regional partner that shares the same values and can work together on the issues of security, trade, and global affairs,” he said in his speech.

Yoon believes that in the context of the current geopolitical shuffle in northeast Asia, it is important to change the previous strategy of maintaining a balance between the United States and China and to join the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific strategy.

The two countries agreed on “the complete normalization” of a military intelligence-sharing pact during the summit in March. Kishida said he hoped to “open a new chapter” in the relations between South Korea and Japan by resuming bilateral visits “without being bound by formality.”

Ben Zhao contributed to this report.