Japan sends envoy to meet South Korea's president-elect in Seoul

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has launched a series of diplomatic drives to boost ties with neighboring countries, including sending an envoy to meet South Korea's president-elect Park Geun-hye on Friday in an effort to ease tensions over a territorial dispute.

Meanwhile, Taro Aso, Japanese deputy prime minister and finance minister, is visiting Myanmar, and Abe will travel to the United States as soon as this month as part of Tokyo's diplomatic push.