South Korea won't attend a memorial near Japan's Sado Island Gold Mines due to ongoing disagreements over historical grievances related to Korean forced labor. The diplomatic rift highlights continued friction between the two countries despite efforts by South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol to improve relations.

South Korea's government said Saturday it will not attend a memorial service near Japan's Sado Island Gold Mines due to unspecified disagreements with Tokyo over the event, which stirred longstanding tensions over the abuse of Korean forced laborers at the site before the end of World War II.

South Korea’s President Yoon had made improving relations with Japan a priority following years of disputes of the two countries’ history.