막 오른 ‘안보국회’…강경화, 외통위 현안보고
Tokyo is poised to take further trade measures against Seoul.
During a parliamentary meeting,... the nation's foreign minister pointed out the government is preparing for all possible scenarios and is continuing to urge Japan to lift its restrictions.
Kim Min-ji has our top story.
Center of debate at the meeting of the National Assembly's foreign affairs and unification committee on Tuesday was the South Korean government's response to Japan's export curbs.
Seoul's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha called Tokyo's actions unjustifiable,... saying that they are of a retaliatory nature.
And with Japan likely to remove Seoul from its whitelist of countries that benefit from minimal trade restrictions,... Kang warned that bilateral ties could take a turn for the worse.
"We are preparing many options. But given the situation, there is a difference between the measures we have revealed and what we have actually prepared. We are taking a lot of things into consideration and are preparing for various scenarios."
Kang said the decision will likely be made at Cabinet meeting on Friday,... with the move expected to take effect in late August.
She added that the South Korean government continues to demand that Japan lift its restrictions and halt its plans to take Seoul off the list calling for dialogue to resolve the issue diplomatically.
Also on the table was the Seoul-Tokyo military intel-sharing pact with some lawmakers questioning whether the government has any plans to scrap the deal.
Kang said, for now, the government intends to keep the pact called the General Security of Military Information Agreement but didn't rule out other possibilities.
"It appears that the government needs to take a strategic approach, according to the circumstances, in terms of how we deliver our stance."
Rival lawmakers in general stressed the need for a stronger response on Seoul's part against Tokyo.
They also called on the foreign minister to step up her diplomatic efforts when she goes to Thailand for the ASEAN Regional Forum where she is expected to meet with her Japanese counterpart.
Kang said she plans to highlight the unfairness of Tokyo's move while expressing regret.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.
