외교부, 나가미네 日 대사 초치…‘화이트리스트’ 배제 항의

South Korea's foreign affairs ministry has echoed the Blue House... expressing grave concerns and regret over Tokyo's removal of Seoul from its trade whitelist.
The ministry urged Tokyo to come to the table for talks... to resolve the issue diplomatically.
Our foreign affairs ministry correspondent Lee Ji-won has more.
South Korea's foreign affairs ministry has lodged an official complaint against Japan for its decision to go ahead with taking Seoul off its whitelist of countries with preferential trade measures.
The ministry on Wednesday said first vice minister Cho Sei-young summoned the Japanese ambassador to South Korea, Yasumasa Nagamine earlier in the morning to protest against Tokyo's decision.
Cho emphasized his grave concerns on how the decision came despite Seoul's efforts to solve the issue diplomatically.
He also made it clear how Japan's trade restrictions on South Korea come not due to what Japan calls "security issues" but because of the forced labor ruling, where Seoul's Supreme Court ordered Japanese firms to compensate Koreans forced to work for them during Japan's colonial rule.
Cho said it is a clear economic retaliation that threatens the basis of Seoul-Tokyo ties.
While urging Tokyo to withdraw its unfair trade curbs, the vice minister strongly urged Japan to sincerely come out for talks to seek an appropriate solution to the issue.
To this, Nagamine simply reiterated Japan's stance and said that he will deliver Seoul's concerns back to Tokyo.
Seoul's foreign ministry spokesperson also reiterated such concerns and regret through a statement.
In strong words, he said he cannot but deplore that Japan carried out the trade curbs that would negatively affect their economic cooperation as well as the world's free trade order and regional co-prosperity.
He then pointed out how Japan's unreasonable excuses and decision to ignore South Korea's requests for talks does not help solve the situation.
"The spokesperson then said the foreign ministry urges Japanese government officials to be careful with their words so as not to hamper efforts to discuss and solve this issue.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News."