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South Korean President Moon Jae-in presides over a Blue House meeting with senior secretaries and aides on July 15. (Kim Jung-hyo, staff photographer)
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S. Korean president sharpens rhetoric regarding Tokyo in Blue House meeting
“I warn that the damage to the Japanese economy [from export controls] will ultimately be greater.” South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a resolute message of warning on July 15 in response to the Japanese government’s move to broaden its export controls. The remarks were also pitched significantly more strongly than a week earlier, when he made his first reference to the export regulation measures on July 8. In addition to sending a clear message on Tokyo’s repeated changing of its reasons for the measures without presenting any solid basis for them, his comments were seen as making it clear at home and internationally that the South Korean administration does not intend to back down or accept a stopgap solution in response to the unjust measures from Japan. Cautioning against attempt to deal structural blow to SK economy Moon’s remarks at a meeting of Blue House senior secretaries and aides that day were sharply edged – sounding a clearly different note from five days earlier, when he called for a long-term response posture at a roundtable discussion with the business community and said he “hope[s] the Japanese government does not proceed any further down this blind alley.” In particular, he made it clear this time that Seoul sees Japan’s export controls not as a one-off measure, but as an attempt to undercut South Korea’s economic growth. “Japan’s export restriction measures are destroying a framework of South Korea-Japan economic cooperation that has been built up over half a century through interdependence and symbiosis,” he said. “I cannot help observing that these measures started with restrictions on exports of semiconductor materials, which are key to the competitiveness of the South Korean economy,” he added. Moon went on to say the measures were “tantamount to barricading growth at a time when the South Korean economy is looking toward achieving a higher level of growth.” “If that is their intention, it will not succeed,” he declared. Moon went on to send a cautionary message: “The damage to the Japanese economy will ultimately be greater.” Indeed, observers within the administration and Blue House see Japan’s decision to proceed with removing South Korea from its “white list” (a list of countries subject to looser or partially waived export controls on items with potential uses in weapons production and development) as strongly suggesting an attempt to thwart South Korean interests by dealing a structural blow to its economy. “The message with this warning was that we can’t just back down simply because Japan does things like this,” a Blue House official explained. “There was also an element of confidence that the South Korean economy is not as fragile as it was in the past,” the official added. Another Blue House official said, “In addition to having the aim of rallying us internally behind the need to respond appropriately to the long-term structural situation that is taking place, I see the President’s remarks as indicating to the Japanese government that it should not make the situation any worse.” Responsibility for historical issues lies with Japan In his July 15 remarks, Moon reaffirmed where responsibility for the situation lies. “I would first like to state that Japan’s unprecedented move to tie historical issues with economic ones is a tremendously unwise decision that goes against advancements in bilateral relations and history,” he said. “The Japanese government adopted a sudden and unilateral measure without any diplomatic discussions or efforts,” he added. He also raised the issue of the Japanese government repeatedly changing its story on the reason for its measures. “At the beginning, Japan said the reason was the South Korean Supreme Court rulings on forced labor mobilization. Then, when it failed to win support from the international community, it changed its position to make it seem as though the reason had to do with alleged smuggling of strategic goods and violations of North Korea sanctions,” he noted. A Blue House official explained, “President Moon views Japan’s attitude as utterly illogical and impossible to accept.” The message is that while Japan may have since backed down with its claims of sanctions violations, Moon concluded that the reckless inconsistency in Japan’s position on such a serious issue between countries necessitated a stern warning. At the same time, Moon stressed, “Our administration has suggested ideas to Japan for a harmonious diplomatic resolution, and the South Korean government never claimed that this was the only solution.” “I hope the Japanese government will cease its unilateral pressure tactics and return at once to discuss a diplomatic resolution,” he urged. His message read as reiterating that while the Japanese government has avoided any discussions on the issue, the South Korean government is extending the option of dialogue at any time. Threatening peace on Korean Peninsula unacceptable Moon’s warning message to Japan also appeared rooted in concerns that the Tokyo’s baseless allegations threaten to undo efforts in the Korean Peninsula peace process. Responding to the Japanese government’s allegations of the smuggling of strategic goods and violations of North Korea sanctions, he said, “This is a serious challenge to the South Korean government – which not only has been a model of enforcement of the four main export control systems, but has also been committing its full efforts to advancing inter-Korean relations and achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula while complying with UN Security Council resolutions and working within the sanctions framework – and one that raises the specter of distrust toward the joint efforts of the international community.” The remarks hinted that Japan’s strategy in alleging violations of North Korea sanctions is to upset the US and drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington, while stifling the current Korean Peninsula denuclearization talks. Moon went on to reiterate his call to settle the issue on the stage of international diplomacy. “Rather than engaging in any more wasteful arguing, the two sides simply need to dispel the allegations through verification by an international agency as the South Korean government has proposed, and accept its findings,” he said. Moon went on to call for unity and cooperation from the public and politicians to turn the situation into a “blessing in disguise.” “Companies will leave behind their dependence on Japanese materials, parts, and equipment and proceed toward diversifying their importation sources or converting to domestic production, while the administration will provide all the necessary support to hasten efforts to improve the constitution of our economy,” he said. In closing, he called for the swift National Assembly passage of a supplementary budget plan including spending in response to the export control measures. “I hope to see cooperation across party lines from the National Assembly and politicians,” he said. By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
