[Photo] Senior Blue House officials arrives in Washington to discuss Japan’s export controls

Kim Hyun-chong, second deputy chief of the Blue House National Security Office, visited Washington, DC, to appeal to US officials for meditation amid the South Korea-Japan trade conflict spurred by Japan’s recent export controls on semiconductor materials. Kim Hee-sang, head of bilateral economic affairs bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also landed in Washington yesterday. Upon arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport, Kim Hyun-chong told reporters that he plans on meeting with White House officials as well as members of the US Senate and House to discuss various South Korea-US issues. When reporters asked him whether he was going to request the US’ mediation in the current trade dispute with Japan, he responded that “that issue will also be on the table.” (Hwang Joon-bum, Washington correspondent)