Seoul's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha is meeting face-to-face with her Japanese counterpart in the coming hours... on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Bangkok.
It will be the first high-level meeting of such since Japan slapped export restrictions on three key materials used to make semiconductors and displays to South Korea... and on the eve of Tokyo's expected removal of Seoul from a list of 27 countries granted preferential trade status.
A make-or-break moment in South Korea, Japan relations... reporting from Bangkok is our foreign affairs correspondent Lee Ji-won.
South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will meet with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on Thursday, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand.
Their meeting will take place at 8-40 AM local time,... and this would be the ministers' first face to face after Japan imposed retaliatory trade restrictions on Seoul earlier this month.
But no solution is expected from the top diplomats' meeting,... as it is simply an effort from both sides to continue their diplomatic talks.
Minister Kang, upon her arrival in Bangkok on Wednesday, said that she will strongly convey Seoul's stance to Kono that Tokyo's export control is unfair, while bringing out Japan's understanding that diplomatic talks need to continue so that their bilateral ties are not severed.
A trilateral sitdown between the two ministers and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also to be held, likely on Friday.
Speaking to reporters en route to Bangkok, Pompeo said he will be meeting with minister Kang and Kono separately, and with both as well.
He said he will encourage them to find a path forward and stress that it's important that the two great partners continue to work closely with the U.S. to denuclearize North Korea.
Minister Kang, in her first multinational ministerial meeting with her ASEAN counterparts Thursday afternoon,... is expected to relay Seoul's stance on the issue, and emphasize how the free-trade spirit must not be hindered for the region's co-prosperity.
Meanwhile, Pompeo, who doesn't anticipate North Korea to take part in the ARF,... said he looks forward to meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho if he ends up coming.
While the meeting between Ri and Pompeo reportedly won't be taking place as Ri will be skipping this year's event, Japan's Kyodo News Agency says the North Korean ambassador to Thailand, Kim Je-bong is slated to take part in the event.
"With the absence of North Korea's foreign minister at this year's event, eyes are now on how Seoul and Tokyo will work to resolve their dispute or,... engage in their diplomatic outreaches to other countries.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News, Bangkok."
