Japan, South Korea at odds over wartime labor, export curbs

September 20, 2019

Tokyo--Senior Japanese and South Korean Foreign Ministry officials remained at odds over a series of bilateral problems, including the issue of wartime labor, in their meeting Friday.

The problems also include tougher controls for each other's exports and Seoul's decision to terminate a military intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo.

Shigeki Takizaki, director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, met with his South Korean counterpart, Kim Jung-han, in Tokyo. It was the first meeting with Kim for Takizaki, who took up the post on Sept. 9.

Takizaki told Kim that South Korea needs to correct "the state of international law violation" over the wartime labor issue, apparently referring to Seoul's refusal to accept bilateral talks or an arbitration process involving third countries to settle the matter under a 1965 bilateral agreement to resolve wartime compensation claims by South Koreans.

Takizaki also called for maintaining the General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA, with Japan. In addition, he lodged a protest against ordinances from the cities of Seoul and Busan to designate some Japanese firms as war criminal companies and restrict purchases of products made by such firms.

Meanwhile, Kim called for the withdrawal of Japan's tightening of export controls for South Korea.

Takizaki replied that the measure is completely consistent with World Trade Organization rules.

The two also exchanged opinions about future talks between their foreign ministers and leaders. Jiji Press