TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and a bipartisan group of South Korean lawmakers agreed Monday to make this year, the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties, a "meaningful" one for the Asian neighbors, despite recent political turmoil in South Korea.

In a meeting held shortly after the arrest of South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for imposing martial law, Ishiba emphasized at his office the importance of maintaining "close communication" between the two nations amid the strategic challenges they face, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry.

The visiting South Korean lawmakers, including Joo Ho Young, deputy speaker of the National Assembly, were quoted by the ministry as saying that the bipartisan group emphasizes the bilateral relationship and agreed to work with Ishiba toward a successful World Exposition in Osaka.

The expo is slated to begin in April, with South Korea among the participants.

The latest meeting was arranged in response to a request by the South Korean side, who wanted to explain the domestic situation following Yoon's declaration of martial law in December, according to a person with knowledge of the planning.

The South Korean lawmakers also met with former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who heads a group of Japanese lawmakers dedicated to strengthening bilateral relations.

Suga canceled his trip to South Korea in December due to the recent confusion.

"It's crucial that the two nations promote exchanges at various levels to deepen ties," Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press briefing.