Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura voiced hope Thursday that Japan-South Korea ties will become closer through talks between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun in Ibusuki, south Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture, on Friday.

Next year is "the year of Japan-South Korea friendship", he said, referring to the need for both countries to boost bilateral ties.

According to Japanese Foreign Ministry, Koizumi has decided to tell Roh during their talks that Japan will increase the number ofshuttle flights between Tokyo's Haneda airport and Seoul's Kimpo airport to promote exchanges between the two countries.

Japan's Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Ministry is working out details of the planned increase in flights, he said.

Japan and South Korea are scheduled to hold various events nextyear to mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral ties.

Source: Xinhua