BANGKOK, Thailand, Aug 3 (NNN-TNA) – South Korean Foreign Minister, Kang Kyung-wha, said, South Korea regrets Japan’s removal of South Korea from its whitelist of trusted trading partners and urged Japan to recall the decision.
Kang made the remarks, after a trilateral meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister, Taro Kono, and U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting and other related meetings in Bangkok.
“Japan should take full responsibility for the decision. South Korea urges Japan to recall its decision and make efforts to address the issue through dialogue.” Kang said.
The South Korean top diplomat also expressed concern about the current South Korea-Japan ties.
Despite obstacles, South Korea is willing to address this dispute with Japan through dialogue, Kang said.
Japan decided to remove South Korea from a list of nations entitled to simplified export control procedures.
The removal of South Korea from the list will take effect on Aug 28, following the necessary completion of domestic procedures in Japan.
Japan had already tightened regulations last month, on its exports to South Korea of three materials vital to make memory chips and display panels, which are mainstays of the South Korean economy.
Japan has a total of 27 countries on its whitelist, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina, and whitelisted countries can, through simplified procedures, receive products exported from Japan that could potentially be diverted for military use.
South Korea has been on the list since 2004, which cover a wide range of items, except for food, timber and other goods.
In order to export the products to countries not on the white list, the countries need to obtain approval from Japan’s trade ministry.
The South Korean government urged Japan not to proceed with its removal from the list, which it estimates could have a negative bearing on more than 1,000 items in key industries, spanning the auto and petrochemical sectors.– NNN-TNA
