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The recent announcement that the Japanese government may impose export restrictions to South Korea has further soured bilateral relations, bringing them down to a record low. The news came as a surprise to South Korea, provided how Prime Minister Abe had reiterated the need for a "free and open economy" at the G20 Summit this past June. While Prime Minister Abe remains discontent about the latest developments in Japan-South Korean relations, he "needs to reconsider his trade war against South Korea." According to Professor Seong-ho Sheen, it was President Moon who "sent his top envoy to Tokyo after the high profile Seoul-Pyongyang dialogue […] and the historic inter-Korean summit" and also "took a two-track approach […] to separate the history issue from other areas" unlike some of the past administrations. Professor Sheen suggests that the South Korean administration is still willing to work with Japan to improve bilateral relations, insofar as Prime Minister Abe reverses his decision. [Read Commentary]
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