Japan export move on S.Korea not designed to hurt relationship, minister says

Japan's decision to remove South Korea from a list of countries that enjoy minimum export controls was not intended to hurt Tokyo's relationship with Seoul, Japan's industry minister said, adding that exporters can still use a special bulk license.

Hiroshige Seko made the comments at a briefing on Friday after Japan's cabinet approved a plan to remove South Korea from a trade "white list". Seko said that Japan would only be ready to talk after South Korea corrected statements it made following a July meeting of bureaucrats from both countries about the issue.

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