Japan Vows Fresh Measures Against South Korea as Tensions Rise

  • Move comes after deadline for arbitration on labor cases
  • Both countries accuse the other of violating international law
Taro KonoPhotographer: Kentaro Takahashi/Bloomberg
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Japan’s foreign minister pledged “necessary measures” against South Korea in a dispute over compensation for colonial-era forced labor that has raised tensions between the neighbors and spilled into trade relations.

Taro Kono, in a statement released Friday by the foreign ministry, didn’t elaborate on what the actions would be. His comments came the day after a deadline set by Tokyo for Seoul to name an arbitrator for the dispute. Japan earlier this month placed export restrictions on specialized materials vital for South Korea’s tech industry.