President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday congratulated a Korean-ethnic high school in Japan on winning a prestigious Japanese baseball tournament.

Kyoto International High School, founded in 1963 as an ethnic institution for students of Korean descent, defeated Kanto Daiichi High School to win the National High School Baseball Championship, better known as “Summer Koshien,” earlier in the day.

“I sincerely congratulate Kyoto International High School on winning Koshien,” Yoon wrote on Facebook. “Your miraculous achievement in poor conditions has given pride and courage to Koreans in Japan.”

Yoon, an avid baseball fan, has worked to improve South Korea-Japan relations marred by disputes stemming from Tokyo’s 1910-45 colonial rule.

“I hope South Korea and Japan can grow even closer through baseball,” he wrote. “Baseball is certainly great. Because it is very moving.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency