Tokyo vows actions if Seoul hurts companies in escalating dispute

TOKYO - Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono said on Friday that Tokyo will take "necessary measures" against South Korea if interests of Japanese companies are harmed in an escalating dispute over colonial-era forced labor.

The neighboring countries and US allies are quarreling over South Korean court decisions ordering Japanese companies to compensate victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

Kono said after summoning South Korean Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo that Tokyo is prepared to take "necessary measures" to protect the interest of Japanese companies, without giving details.

Their talks were held in an icy atmosphere, briefly turning confrontational.

"It is extremely problematic that South Korea is one-sidedly leaving alone the situation that violates the international law, which is the foundation of our bilateral relationship," Kono told Nam. "The action being taken by the South Korean government is something that completely overturns the order of the international community since the end of the World War II."

Kono urged Seoul to immediately take action to stop the court process, under which the plaintiffs of the lawsuit are preparing to seize assets of the Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industry.

Nam defended his government and mentioned Seoul's proposal of creating a joint fund as a way to settle the dispute. Kono raised his voice, saying Tokyo had already rejected the idea. He also criticized the ambassador for being "rude" to suggest it again.

Responding to Kono's remark, South Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Japan still hasn't done enough to make amends for the suffering South Koreans had gone through during the colonial past and that it should discuss ways to find solutions acceptable to both sides.

"To genuinely resolve the problem, Japan must look straight into the unfortunate past and make efforts to heal the pain and scars of the victims," the ministry said. "We hope that the Japanese government would withdraw its unilateral pressure including the export restrictions of retaliatory character and return to the stage of diplomatic resolutions."

In Washington, President Donald Trump said on Friday he had been approached by South Korean President Moon Jae-in asking if he could help with the dispute with Japan.

"If they need me, I'm there. Hopefully, they can work it out. But they do have tension, there's no question about it," he said, adding "it's a full-time job getting involved between Japan and South Korea".

Associated Press