문 대통령, "日 무역보복, 승자 없는 게임"
More stern words from South Korea's leader, jabbing Japan for its aggressive trade moves.
President Moon Jae-in's comments came on Thursday as he chaired a national economic meeting... to draw up response measures against Tokyo's export curbs.
President Moon emphasized, the trade dispute benefits no one, and hurts Japan as much as it damages South Korea.
Park Hee-jun reports. President Moon Jae-in urged Japan to end this dispute that has no winner.
He called on the Japanese government to call off its trade restrictions,... which are hurting the economies and people of both countries.
"I do not understand what Japan gains from its unilateral trade measures. Even if it has benefits, they are only temporary. In the end, this is just a game where there is no winner and all are losers."
President Moon held his third National Economic Advisory Council meeting on Thursday,... where he discussed possible countermeasures against Japan’s trade restrictions with related senior officials and experts,... including his chief of staff for policy Kim Sang-jo and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki.
There, he criticized Japan for its contradictory behavior.
"Japan is a country that has benefited the most from free trade and actively argued for free trade when it needs it for its own good, making the measures very contradictory."
President Moon also said Tokyo might not carry out the trade controls,... meaning there may not be any actual damage.
According to Blue House Spokesperson Ko Min-jung, he was saying that although there are export curbs on three high-tech materials,... Japan could end up granting approval for their export.
Nevertheless,... economic uncertainties remain.
That's why Moon also raised the need for a response plan and diplomatic efforts.
On the same day, Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy Kim Sang-jo met with executives of the country's top five conglomerates.
He gathered the opinions of Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG and Lotte on the unprecedented situation,... as part of government efforts to work together with businesses to overcome the difficulties.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.
