Taiwan's legislative speaker met South Korea's new envoy in Taipei, a low-key but friendly sign that both sides want closer ties as East Asia gets tenser.

• Legislative Yuan speaker Han Kuo-yu received Hwang Jaeho, South Korea's new representative in Taipei.
• Han called the regional situation sensitive and complicated, and pushed for more exchanges between Taiwan and South Korea.
• Hwang first studied in Taiwan 38 years ago and said he wants to deepen practical ties between the two sides.
• The two talked about East Asian security, Taiwan-China relations and people-to-people contact in a half-hour meeting.

Outlook: Expect more quiet Taiwan-South Korea exchanges, though Seoul will keep them unofficial to avoid angering Beijing.