S. Korea rebuts Japanese criticism over export controls

July 8, 2019

Seoul--South Korea dismissed criticism from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday that Seoul is inadequately handling exports.

Seoul is abiding thoroughly by obligations as a member of the world's four major export control regimes, a South Korean Foreign Ministry official said.

The comments came a day after Abe said Japan tightened its controls on semiconductor materials exports to South Korea because there had been a case of inadequate handling by South Korea. There are views that some products exported to South Korea ended up in North Korea.

The South Korean official also said Seoul is implementing U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea faithfully, under close cooperation with the international community.

The four export control regimes include the Wassenaar Arrangement, which covers conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies. Jiji Press