For all of our Asia followers, South Korea and Japan have taken a major historic step in their relationship, culturally, politically, and strategically, which will reset the geopolitical environment in APAC for decades – The de facto resolution of their dispute over wartime conscripted labor.
Most notably, Seoul and Tokyo own this deal. It is reported that the agreement “… was driven by the parties themselves and not by Washington—indeed, at various times in recent months, U.S. officials were asked to stay out.”
Further reading and insight is found at CSIS – Center for Strategic and International Studies.