S. Korea hints at retaliation against export controls by Japan

July 4, 2019

Seoul--South Korean Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki on Thursday left open the possibility of the nation taking retaliatory action against Japan's tightened controls on semiconductor materials exports to South Korea.

The South Korean government will consider a variety of possible countermeasures unless Japan withdraws the measure, introduced on Thursday, Hong, also minister of economy and finance, said on a radio program.

He expressed deep regret over Japan's move, saying that South Korea clearly recognizes it as a retaliatory step taken against South Korean judicial decisions over the issue of wartime labor, which has strained the East Asian neighbors' ties in recent months.

Last year, South Korea's supreme court ordered Japanese companies to pay compensation to Koreans requisitioned to work for them during World War II. The Japanese government takes the position that the wartime labor issue was resolved by a 1965 bilateral agreement on property and claims.

Hong also said Japan itself will suffer from the tightened export controls.

He said South Korea is considering filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization against the Japanese move, but noted at the same time that the WTO procedures would take a number of years to produce any results.

Meanwhile, Na Kyung-won, the floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, accused the administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in of failing to take appropriate responses to prevent the bilateral relationship from worsening.

In a speech at South Korea's National Assembly, the conservative party heavyweight said that the Moon administration has exacerbated the tensions by sitting idly even though the Japanese side had notified Seoul of its intention to retaliate on the trade front well in advance.

The administration is extremely incompetent and irresponsible, she said.

Na warned that core industries in South Korea would suffer tremendous damage if the tightened export controls are kept in place for an extended period of time, adding that the Moon administration's incompetent diplomacy is threatening to put public well-being at risk.

While calling on Japan to withdraw the trade measure, she said that forward-looking South Korea-Japan relations are necessary although South Korea should not forget history issues with Japan.

Na added that she will promote legislative diplomacy to help the two neighbors mend their ties. Jiji Press