도쿄신문 "日 한국 수출규제, 아무리 봐도 경제제재"
In other news, a Japanese newspaper has reported that Japan's restriction of key high-tech materials exports to South Korea is DEFINITELY an act of retaliation against Seoul's Supreme Court ruling last year that held Japanese companies liable for wartime forced labor.
Despite the Japanese government's denial, Tokyo Shimbun on Saturday gave several reasons why the export restrictions are retaliation.
One reason is a statement by Masaaki Akaike( ), a Japanese politician from the Liberal Democratic Party, who claimed that Japan should begin with practicable economic sanctions such as cutting the supply of etching gas in January.
The paper also cited Japan's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso's statement in March, where he also hinted of the possibility of retaliatory action such as ceasing remittances and visa issuance.
However, the report said that despite such evidence, Japan is still going to deny that their trade controls were an act of retaliation since it could worsen bilateral ties and even lead to Korea's boycott of the Tokyo Olympics.
