Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Seoul-Tokyo Trade Tension Could Complicate US Efforts on North Korea
Denuclearization

Christy Lee

   Lee Jo-eun of VOA's Korean Service contributed to this report.

   WASHINGTON -- Growing trade tensions between Seoul and Tokyo could
   undermine regional stability and complicate U.S. efforts to make
   progress on denuclearization with North Korea, said experts.

   The tension between the two countries, with origins in Japan's
   pre-World War II occupation of Korea, has become an "unprecedented
   emergency," said South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a Wednesday
   meeting with executives of South Korea's top 30 conglomerates. "We
   can't rule out the possibility that the situation would be prolonged,
   despite our diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue."

   The meeting took place in response to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
   Abe imposing tight export controls on three Japanese-made high-tech
   materials to South Korea. The materials restricted July 4 areused in
   the production of memory chips, TVs and smartphones.

   Working level talks between South Korea and Japan are scheduled to
   begin Friday in Tokyo, according to South Korea's trade ministry. The
   talks come after Moon this week urged Japan to roll back the export
   restriction, saying he wants to resolve the dispute diplomatically.

.