Japan Vows Action if SKorea Hurts Biz  07/20 09:17

   TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's foreign minister said Tokyo will take "necessary 
measures" against South Korea if interests of Japanese companies are harmed in 
an escalating dispute over World War II forced labor.

   The neighboring countries and U.S. allies are quarreling over South Korean 
court decisions ordering Japanese companies to compensate victims of forced 
labor during Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

   Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Friday after summoning South Korean 
Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo that Tokyo is prepared to take "necessary measures" to 
protect the interest of Japanese companies, without giving details.

   Their talks were held in an icy atmosphere, briefly turning confrontational.

   "It is extremely problematic that South Korea is one-sidedly leaving alone 
the situation that violates the international law, which is the foundation of 
our bilateral relationship," Kono told Nam. "The action being taken by the 
South Korean government is something that completely overturns the order of the 
international community since the end of the World War II."

   Kono urged Seoul to immediately take action to stop the court process, under 
which the plaintiffs of the lawsuit are preparing to seize assets of the 
Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industry.

   Nam defended his government and mentioned Seoul's proposal of creating a 
joint fund as a way to settle the dispute. Kono raised his voice, saying Tokyo 
had already rejected the idea. He also criticized the ambassador for being 
"rude" to suggest it again.

   Japan says all compensation issues had been settled under the 1965 bilateral 
agreement and that the South Korean government's lack of intervention to stop 
the court process is a breach of the international treaty.

   Tokyo is considering taking the issue to the International Court of Justice, 
although some officials say South Korea is expected to refuse going to court. 
Tokyo may seek damages from South Korea in case assets of Japanese companies 
are seized, Japanese media reported.

   Responding to Kono's remark, South Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a 
statement saying Japan still hasn't done enough to make amends for the 
sufferings South Koreans had gone through during the colonial past and that it 
should discuss ways to find solutions acceptable to both sides.

   "To genuinely resolve the problem, Japan must look straight into the 
unfortunate past and make efforts to heal the pain and scars of the victims," 
the ministry said. "We hope that the Japanese government would withdraw its 
unilateral pressure including the export restrictions of retaliatory character 
and return to the stage of diplomatic resolutions."

   Seoul has protested Japan's tightened controls on sensitive high-tech 
exports to South Korea that could affect South Korean manufacturers as well as 
global supplies of smartphones and displays.

   In Washington, President Donald Trump said Friday he had been approached by 
South Korean President Moon Jae-in asking if he could help with the dispute 
with Japan.

   "If they need me, I'm there. Hopefully they can work it out. But they do 
have tension, there's no question about it," he said, adding "it's a full-time 
job getting involved between Japan and South Korea."

   The trade dispute adds to their already strained relations.

   In Seoul, a 78-year-old South Korean man died hours after setting himself 
ablaze near the Japanese Embassy on Friday, police said.

   Police said the man had phoned an acquaintance earlier to say he planned to 
self-immolate to express his antipathy toward Japan. Kim's family told 
investigators that his father-in-law had been conscripted as a forced laborer 
during the Japanese occupation.

   Seoul has accused Tokyo of weaponizing trade to retaliate against the South 
Korean court rulings on compensating forced labor and plans to file a complaint 
with the World Trade Organization.

   Tokyo said the export control issue has nothing to do with historical 
disputes but that the materials in question can be sent only to trustworthy 
trading partners. Without presenting specific examples, it has questioned 
Seoul's credibility in controlling the exports of arms and items that can be 
used for civilian and military purposes.

   South Korea has proposed an inquiry by the U.N. Security Council or another 
international body on the export controls of both countries.


(KR)