Officials acknowledged no tangible progress at the summit, but said the meeting paved the way for the two neighbors to resolve their disputes over the interpretation of history.

Analysts said, however, the summit showed the two countries have a long way to go toward ending their decades-long hostilities caused by Tokyo's 35-year colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

In a news conference after the meeting, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said he used most of the two-hour talks to discuss "historical issues" but failed to win a pledge from Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to address South Korean concerns over Japan's perception of history.

"I spent 1 hour and 50 minutes of the two-hour meeting to discuss historical issues," he said. "We had a consensus in some issues, but could not reach any agreement."

For the remaining 10 minutes, Roh and Koizumi signed a two-point statement agreed upon before the meeting to establish a second study group to examine Japan's treatment of its wartime past. In the accord, Koizumi said he would consider building an alternate memorial for a war shrine honoring Japanese war dead, including class A war criminals, "in consideration of the public opinion" in Japan.

Frequent visits by Koizumi and other Japanese leaders to the Yasukuni shrine have been one of the thorniest diplomatic issues between the two countries as South Korea considers the visits as Japan's championing of its past militarism.

Roh called the two-point statement a "low-level" accord because Koizumi failed to deliver a firm "promise" on the issue.

"I hear the Yasukuni shrine is a place beautifying past militarism in a glorious manner," Roh said, calling an end to Koizumi's visit to the war shrine.

"It's difficult to say that future peace is guaranteed by just strengthening exchanges and cooperation," Roh said, stressing measures "that can sort out and reconcile historical understanding between the two nations" are needed.

In the news conference, Koizumi reiterated his visits to Yasukuni were meant to show his resolve Japan would never again wage a war.

"I make visits not to justify Japan's past aggression but to pay tribute to those who participated in the war against their own volition and pledge to myself we should not re-launch war," he said.

"As for the issue of the past, we will reflect on the things that need reflecting upon as well as look to the future and discuss things directly, which is extremely important for building and strengthening trust and friendship between our two nations," he said. "It is important for Japan to reflect on what it should do to achieve reconciliation between the two countries."

Koizumi said he wants to have "friendly" ties with South Korea and urged close cooperation on efforts to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Japan needs support from South Korea and other member of the United Nations to win permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. South Korea is opposed to Japan's bid as is China, which sits on the body.

Earlier this year, leaders of South Korea and Japan vowed to forge "future-oriented friendship" to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. But bilateral ties chilled after Japan renewed its territorial claim to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo and approved school textbooks glorifying Japan's colonization of Korea.

The rows come amid a need for close coordination between the two nations to curb North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions. Both nations are Washington's key Asian ally. The three nations are joining forces to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons in six-nation talks that also involve China and Russia.

In Seoul, Koizumi was greeted by strong protests by South Koreans. Protesters staged rallies in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.

"We oppose Koizumi's visit," they shouted. Angry protestors burnt Japanese flags in the rallies.

"Prime Minister Koizumi is not qualified to set foot in this country as he has never atoned for the past and only tried to beef up Japan's imperialism," a civic group said in a statement.

The embassy building was almost completely cordoned off as police buses parked the length of the front wall to keep protesters away. Thousands of police were stationed along the embassy.

Kim Yong-duk, a Japan expert at Seoul National University, said the summit was unnecessary, given Japanese leaders continue to defend Tokyo's past.

"The two nations are urged to have more working-level discussions over how to resolve the disputes before holding another summit," he said.

In Monday's summit, Roh and Koizumi agreed to meet again later this year to discuss ways to mend ties.

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