TOKYO, April 26 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday that strategic cooperation between Japan and South Korea is now more necessary than ever.

During his meeting with a delegation sent by South Korea's President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, Kishida said that the two countries needed to resolve issues related to Japan's colonial rule, according to a statement from the Japanese government.

Chung Jin-suk, chief of the South Korean delegation, told reporters that they agreed with Kishida to work towards forward looking relations and for mutual interests.