Japan to decide on Aug 2 to remove S Korea from preferential treatment list

There's a lot of whining going on in SK now. Damned, the WTO did not play along as we wanted, so must continue to blame Japan on world stage. How abut seeking the truth somewhere in the area of broken contracts and trust by SK? Why is a simple removal from a White List so important to SK? Trade continues, it basically just needs an additional signature. Ridiculus to blame Japan for not agreeing for an immediate meeting about the issue when SK doesn't do the same for decades on multiple matters. I would say it is time, really time for SK to take steps to stop the relations from worsening, it's not Japans turn. Japan played along for a long time always trying to not escalate problems provoked by SK, basically just defended themselves and now we have one little active (re)action and we see how SK deals with it: Waaa, boohoo, us poor ... etc. Getting sick of it. Maybe Japan will learn from SK, that being sneaky, loud and obnoxious apparently seems to help to promote oneself in the world. Whatever happened to dignity and decency in SK? They could be a proud nation focusing on the future instead whining about the past and economically maybe even stronger if joint forces with Japan. Why not go the brighter way for their children?

The signs read: "We denounce Japan's economic retaliation. Don't buy Japanese goods."

Oh, we are making a bit of progress - they recognize it as retaliation. They know they've attacked first!

Japan is doing the right thing ... I wouldn't give someone prefferential treatment after he hit me in the face either.

In normal friendships this also happens, I get into a fight with my friend and whoever starts it says sorry and maybe offers an icecream or whatever as a sorry. If he would come back to me years later and tell me that even though I gave him the ice and everything was fine for a while he can't stand me anymore again and I need to give him much more stuff he shouldn't wonder if I would be pissed.

I'd like to see Japan move forward with removing SK from the white list. That way they can demonstrate how firm they are in their stand that SK is untrustworthy, because they are. If they dont, SK will mock them, declare victory and wont even have an ounce of respect left (to Japan). Not that there is any now or forever ago.

Koreans get hot quick. They are compared to an instant water heater while Japanese are patient and slow. Japanese kept silence long to indecent Korea. Once Japan gets angry, it will be strong and firm.

Japan knows SK doesn't deserve the white list. It's an appropriate decision.

For a country that spouts off about comfort women, involves third party nations in placing those annoying comfort women statues in their countries, war reparations, apologies from Prime Ministers, Emperors, and teaching anti-Japanese rhetoric in their schools, is it any surprise Japan has had enough of this crap?

I know Japan claims this to be a case of national security with S. Korea not being trustworthy enough to retain and keep these sensitive materials from getting into N. Korea or China, but you have to also think that S. Korea's anti-Japanese stance has finally pissed off Japan enough to cut them out of the happy, happy free-trade white list other real friendly nations get to be on.

When you bite that hand that feeds....

South Korean high school students protesting, that says it all.

This irrational hatred of all things Japan is indoctrinated among all levels of SK society.

Since Japan finally had the backbone to stand up against these bullies, the anti-Japan folks do what they do best, bring up the "Japanese atrocities/colonial period" card to stir up hatreds around the world. When all else fails, cloud the issue at hand with shouts of "comfort women" and Japan never apologized. None of that has anything to do with the issue at hand.

Grow up!

@Heckleberry

The only sheep here seems to be you. It's 2019, not 1940. Most of the Japanese from that era are dead. How much of an apology does a nation have to give about something that happened over half a century ago? It's great that you support South Korea but get off their nuts.

Japan deserves Thank You from South Korea for listing them in the whitelist for so long.

China, Taiwan and other Asian countries are not in preferential list. It seems S Korea just goes back to the normal list before 2004 and someday it would go back again. Japan itself can decide whether a country should be in preferential list or not. There is no argument about it. Anyway S Korea does same kind of thing as Japan does, because S Korea is one of biggest exporters.

SK reps are in the US currently lobbying their case with some government officials there, wanting the US to be on board to collectively reprimand Japan for having the audacity to stop treating Korea "special". So the propaganda of 'Japan is evil, let's hate them' is being expanded around the world. Makes total sense for Korea.

@Heckleberry

Relax. Your freaking out just like S. Korea. You'll be ok, will still ship over what you need, how relations unfold is in Koreas hands.

The Moon administration has put South Korea's economy as well as political position in the worst position I have seen in decades. His aspirations of ending the North-South standoff through appeasement, leading an naive and inexperienced US President by the nose, and utilizing anti-Japan sentiment has backfired in the worst way. Japan has said "enough". Russia and China just showed how little they respect South Korea. North Korea is firing low trajectory short range missiles that target South Korea. And the US gives no objection because all tje US demanded of North Korea is that they stop long range and medium range missile test, in other words those that threaten the US and Japan.

If Japan removes South Korea from their White List, you can rest assured that it goes far deeper than the WWII related issues between South Korea and Japan.

jeancolmarToday  11:00 pm JST

I have yet to understand why the Abe government will take South Korea off its "white list." Also, why is trust between South Korea and Japan "severely damaged." There have been no rational explanations that I have read.

The only way the above is possible is if one never reads or follows the news. The vankers on this site are getting really really tedious. What's seriously sad though is looking at the above photograph and seeing just how South Korea has brainwashed it's youth through it's education system. Can one imagine High School students in any country demonstrating about WWII issues from 75 years ago? That was fundamentally wrong for South Korea itself, and the whole show is coming back to bite them in the ass. What's become clear is that;

SK's anti-JPN policy has failed, both politically and economically for SK.

The rest of the world, including the US, China and Russia UN and WTO, don't give a damn about SK's continuous WWII whining. Because the rest of the world is living in "today" not 75 years ago.

Moon took a gamble in trying to make "history" by bringing SK and NK together. That has failed miserably on all fronts.

The ball is in SK's court to resolve this issue. And unfortunately I suspect that SK will have to be dropped from Japan's Whitelist, and the US will have to openly talk about pulling our troops out of SK for them to wake up and start dealing with reality.

I spoke with a licensed arms dealer familar with Japan and Korea. I asked him if there was any merit to Japanese claims that chemicals and other items useful in weapons manufacture imported from Japan to Korea were being exported to countries that might pass them to North Korea. He said he had not studied this particular case but in general the ROK was known to be very porous. He described it as a sieve.

Other sources have told me that long before the current flap there was pressure within the Japanese government to remove the preferential treatment for the ROK because of the fear that high tech Japanese products were ending up in North Korea.

@Heckleberry Today 05:56 pm JST

Over the years watching Special Asians versus the Japanese, I have come to one conclusion: Differences of fact are completely safe and insignificant compared to differences of law. So the real test is more of a "OK, maybe you are right on the facts. What do you think should happen now?" That answer is by far more important than the facts they use.

Maybe Japan will learn from SK, that being sneaky, loud and obnoxious apparently seems to help to promote oneself in the world. 

No that is not the Japanese style. They look down upon loud complainers To complain is to be weak. The Japanese style is closer to the Chinese, keep quiet like a crouching tiger hidden dragon and think of the next card you’re going to play.

The Koreans are more like Trump wearing one’s heart on the sleeves and tweeting one’s mind left and right. The Japanese don’t wear their hearts on their sleeves so the enemy birds can’t come and peck at it.

Good move Abe Cabinet, good move. Hit SK hard, and show no mercy. Another day, another anti-Japan rally.

Moon - overturn that farce court ruling NOW, or more trade bans are coming, plus bans on numbers of SK citizens entering Japan.

S. Korea can be added to the list again if they play nice, respect the aggrement signed, show sincerity in working together and keeping promises made.

Those high school kids look about as excited to be there as the kids we have here being paid to spin signs on street corners advertising a mattress sale. Those teachers need to work harder, get those kids to look more enthusiastic about their indoctrination.

Taylor Swift new song for Korea.

''You need to calm down, your being too loud''

Seriously, involving high school kids...I am speachless.

vinarius@pm.catv.ne.jpToday 07:50 pm JST

Did anyone see history repeat itself ???.

Yup, it draws an eerie similarity from 1895 when Japan liberated the Korean peninsula from the Qing dynasty and right after.

Thanks to this small trade problem, with the excuse to mediate, Trump is winning both South Korean and Japanese involvment in Iran, without the public opinion of both the Countries can notice it too much.

So I suppose you think Japan has been an honorable example of how to make amends with their neighbours?

It takes two to “tangle.”

speechless* I meant.

There’s a conspiracy theory that goes like removing South Korea from the white list is part of Trump Administration’s bid to contain China. Korea buys hydrofluoric acid from Japan and then resells large quantities of it to Huawei and other Chinese high tech manufacturers. US is trying to cut off supplies of crucial materials to China and, of course, Abe cannot say no to Trump’s request.

Blood is thicker than water. I wouldn’t want to see NK come to its brother’s aid and threaten Japan. It would be great to see the two Koreas reunited but Japan needs to keep this in mind.

いい加減にしろ is the appropriate phrase. Don’t take this any further. Missile fly Stocks drop. No one wins. Learn to reconcile the irreconcilable.

I find the photo disgusting. Indoctrinating the young for a political agenda. Wonder why the western media doesn't cover the historical revisionism taught in SK schools.

http://marcuse.faculty.history.ucsb.edu/classes/133p/133p04papers/133p04papimg/HitlerYouth.jpg

@saitamaliving

Simply put, Japan's action was an embarrassment and insult to SK, because for them, Japan is an inferior nation to SK. They've demonstrated that over and over in the past. So for an inferior nation to step on them and treat them like Japan did --- that was unacceptable. That's why this dispute will never be resolved, not diplomatically where Korea is concern. For them, Jaoan just needs to follow what they want, when they want it.

Alex80Today  01:56 am JST

Seriously, involving high school kids...I am speachless.

Yes. during ordinary school days as always.

@jeancolmar Today 11:53 am JST

Well, I can't see exactly what and how they are teaching things in a Korean school. I think it is, however, common ground that they teach "truth education" - as in, they teach about sex slaves and "colonialism". We can also see the products - a country of extremist people (here I speak of Majority rather than Entirety), who if they don't hate Japan per se, feel their cause "justifies" their breakage of law and subordination of the legitimate rights and interests of the Japanese people. It is reasonable that such a country be treated as hostile by the Japanese.

@jeancolmar Today  01:45 am JST

OssanAmerica réponses to my question above as follows: "The only way the above is possible is if one never reads or follows the news". Okay, writer, let's assume I never read, see or hear the news, making me so cut off from reality that NHK does not want my money. On the other hand, you, OssanAmerica should be well informed enough to answer my question, which boils down to one thing. What is Japan's beef with South Korea? So enlighten me.

So far yaponezy has the best answer: "No one here will be able to explain it because the Japanese shepherd hasn't taught the sheep the answers yet."

Anyone want to top that?

In short, South Korea is supposed to cooperate with Japan by timely responding with full explanation when requested, on the names of Korean exporters, of final users and final use of the materials(convertible to military usage) when SK exports( or exported) to the other 3rd countries, which SK didn't for 3 years and a few months. That's the Japan's beef with SK. Plain and Simple.

Now what's your beef with Japan's action treating SK just in normal and the same manner as it does for every single other Asian countries?

@MASSWIPE July 26  10:30 pm JST

If the matter at hand is failure to stringently isolate the North Korean regime, can we please discuss why a virtual North Korean state within the state has been allowed to exist in Japan for decades, with generously funded pro-Pyongyang primary and secondary schools and even a university existing in western Tokyo?

I take it as you are strongly against allowing for such existence.

Hahaha, Korean girls are as creative as Japanese girls. They use Japanese flag for No, and Korean flag for yes, the no 4 girl in the picture.

Okay OssanAmerica, how about documenting what you said in your previous posting. How do you know those young people are "indoctrinated' and what "political agenda" are you referring to? And specifically what do you mean by "historical revisionism" supposedly taught in SK schools.

I specifically asked you in elementary layman's language what is Japan's specific beef with South Korea. You have said I am ill-informed but done nothing to enlighten me.

When smart people argue with smart people, the only solution is a smart solution, that is all smart about.

“I spoke with a licensed arms dealer familiar with Japan and Korea,”

Yes, and I’m Prime Minister Abe’s long-lost half sibling. There is no reason not to believe that you just made up your anecdote in order to upload it here. If the matter at hand is failure to stringently isolate the North Korean regime, can we please discuss why a virtual North Korean state within the state has been allowed to exist in Japan for decades, with generously funded pro-Pyongyang primary and secondary schools and even a university existing in western Tokyo?

I suppose this is “whataboutery,” but I can raise this issue if other people are going to instantly ask “What about all the problems in Britain and the U.S.” in reaction to any negative story about Japan. It’s really disingenuous for the Japanese government to point a finger at the South Korean government as an enabler of North Korean ambitions.

Did anyone see history repeat itself ???.

Both sides are acting like a-holes in this.

Does Japan try to minimize its history of military aggression and atrocities committed before and during the war? Yes. They do.

Does Korea (North and South, plus China and others) like to whip out the Japan boogieman to whip up nationalist fervor. Yes. They do.

They all need to grow up, and start acting like adults. Nationalism is a mental disease of the weak-willed and ignorant.

There are a lot of rooms, or backdoors, for Japanese govt. Abe is not as stupid as we would normally think he is. Actually, Japan should get rid of the childish and discriminating restrictions altogether. It is old ideology, it works against Japanese interests. I still believe that the united northeast asia is the best way forward.

Korea and Japan had the last information exchange before the forthcoming GSOMIA termination notice next month. After that, Japan goes back to being totally blind from incoming NK ballistic missiles.

Don't blame Koreans, blame Abe san for shooting Japan's security in the foot.

http://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=146973

S. Korea, Japan Exchange Info on N. Korea Missile Launch

South Korea and Japan are confirmed to have exchanged flight information on the two short-range ballistic missiles fired by North Korea on Thursday.

The exchange was in line with the bilateral General Security of Military Information Agreement(GSOMIA).

This move has raised attention on whether the agreement will be renewed as they remain locked in an intensifying battle over trade and historical disputes.

This irrational hatred of all things Japan is indoctrinated among all levels of SK society.

In which country can you find 80% of ALL comments in social media and youtube platforms that are dedicated to anti-Korean? It's amazing how the Japanese have nothing to talk about except bash Koreans.

Furthermore, in which country do you have bookstores with a section dedicated to bashing Koreans? It's a feel good thing for the Japanese. You're depressed, so you go to a book store, see titles like, 'Why I'm glad I wasn't born in Korea' and voila, you're all happy again.

Of course that's just normal part of life for the Japanese, but when the Koreans do it, you demonize them.

What a hypocrite bunch of people you are. At least for the Koreans, it's not part of their every day life.

OssanAmerica réponses to my question above as follows: "The only way the above is possible is if one never reads or follows the news". Okay, writer, let's assume I never read, see or hear the news, making me so cut off from reality that NHK does not want my money. On the other hand, you, OssanAmerica should be well informed enough to answer my question, which boils down to one thing. What is Japan's beef with South Korea? So enlighten me.

So far yaponezy has the best answer: "No one here will be able to explain it because the Japanese shepherd hasn't taught the sheep the answers yet."

Anyone want to top that?

I have yet to understand why the Abe government will take South Korea off its "white list." Also, why is trust between South Korea and Japan "severely damaged." There have been no rational explanations that I have read.

Anyone want to explain it here?

No one here will be able to explain it because the Japanese shepherd hasn't taught the sheep the answers yet.

My guess is that the Japanese government don't even know how to contain their double standard.

On the one side, they have trust issues when it comes to trade, on the other side, they don't have trust issues when it comes to sharing military information and want to maintain GSOMIA.

Unfortunately, they accuse South Korea for leaking materials into North Korea (without showing any evidence), yet evidence was found that Japan leaked equipment used for military into North Korea.

Koreans get hot quick. They are compared to an instant water heater while Japanese are patient and slow. Japanese kept silence long to indecent Korea. Once Japan gets angry, it will be strong and firm.

@lotsofvanity - Or.. the Japanese public are like sheep, they never resist even if you lead them to slaughter. They don't vote, they don't act to change what they don't like, they are in a state of learned helplessness. People in SK stand up for themselves, and take action.

Amazing how you could come up with two complete interpretations of the same observation, isn't it? It's called bias. I recognise mine, but I wonder if you recognise yours?

I have yet to understand why the Abe government will take South Korea off its "white list." Also, why is trust between South Korea and Japan "severely damaged." There have been no rational explanations that I have read.

Anyone want to explain it here?

Finally, excellent photograph above. The photographer is certainly on my white list.

This will be a good opportunity for Korea to reduce reliance on Japan for its main industries.

Samsung is testing non-Japanese sources of fluoride required in high tech memory manufacture, and within 6-12 months will be independent of Japanese government's whim.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Japan-South-Korea-rift/Samsung-tests-non-Japan-materials-as-Asia-trade-war-deepens

https://fluoridealert.org/news/samsung-tests-non-japan-materials-as-asia-trade-war-deepens/

As an aside, it's interesting that various media sources including the Japanese sources are reporting Japan's move as a trade war, while on JT there is widespread denial that this is simply about SK being a security, toeing the official government line.

Well said. South Korea has been anything but honourable, and I'd go as far to say that (where Japan is involved) they are utterly incapable of it. Which is sad, because you can pinpoint the exact reason why relations between the two countries faltered after South Korea ignored the 1965 treaty.

This is not a trade war, nor is it explicitly linked to the dishonest handling of the reparations Japan gave to South Korea after 1965. It's all about trust, and South Korea is not worthy of it.

So I suppose you think Japan has been an honorable example of how to make amends with their neighbours?

Japan played along for a long time always trying to not escalate problems provoked by SK, basically just defended themselves and now we have one little active (re)action and we see how SK deals with it: Waaa, boohoo, us poor ... etc. Getting sick of it. 

Or... if you take off your Japanocentric goggles, Japan has largely sought to distance itself from its recent war mongering past, with prominent Japanese politicians including the current PM Abe constantly trying to whitewash history, and deny or downplay past injustices. Japan's youth know SFA about their own recent past, and scratch their head when they learn there is resentment from their two closest neighbours China and SK.

But of course through your warped goggles, Japan has been doing the honorable thing while SK has been the opposite.

Japanophile posters have posted volumes of criticism at SK's reluctance to forget the past and move forward, but let me list some inconvenient truths below.

Current PM Abe denies 'comfort women' were forced.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1544471/Japanese-PM-denies-wartime-comfort-women-were-forced.html

What Japanese history lessons leave out - and leave Japanese youths oblivious to their history:

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21226068

Whilst SK have been the most vocal about the 'comfort women' issue, even countries largely seen as friendly to Japan have put up statues alerting the current generation about the Japanese war crimes:

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201808150047.html

Japan is doing the right thing ... I wouldn't give someone prefferential treatment after he hit me in the face either.

Really.. you feel that is a good summation of history between Japan and SK? You must have gone through the Japanese schooling system, very light on WW2 history.

In normal friendships this also happens, I get into a fight with my friend and whoever starts it says sorry and maybe offers an icecream or whatever as a sorry. If he would come back to me years later and tell me that even though I gave him the ice and everything was fine for a while he can't stand me anymore again and I need to give him much more stuff he shouldn't wonder if I would be pissed.

That is a cringeworthy analogy. I mean do we really to hear about how you mend your little friendships with ice-creams?