SEOUL, July 4 ― South Korea's economic policy chief said today he would not rule out direct countermeasures against Japan if Tokyo keeps restrictions on exports of high-tech materials to South Korean companies for a long time. “Implementing corresponding measures against Japan cannot be ruled out because it will take a long time for the World Trade Organization to produce a conclusion,” Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said on radio.
Amid a growing dispute over wartime forced labour between Tokyo and Seoul, Japan on Monday announced stricter restrictions on exports of three materials used in South Korean chips and smartphone displays.
The tighter export controls, which take effect today, could slow the export process by several months, hitting South Korean tech giants such as Samsung Electronics Co, SK Hynix Inc and LG Display.
So far, South Korea has sought to settle the issue of the export curbs through the WTO.
In October, South Korea's top court ruled that Japan's Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. must compensate four South Koreans for their forced labour during World War Two, a verdict Japan denounced as “unthinkable”.
Kyodo News Agency reported on Tuesday that Japan was considering expanding its export controls to more items bound for South Korea.
Today, South Korea's finance minister said that if retaliation leads to further retaliation, there will be “unfortunate damage to both Korean and Japanese economies”.
Also today, the head of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party, Lee Hae-chan said “This fight is just in the beginning, not the end.” ― Reuters
