Seoul: US understands seriousness of Seoul-Tokyo trade fight

Protesters hold their banners in the rain during a rally demanding full compensation and an apology for wartime sex slaves from Japanese government in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday, July 17, 2019. In his strongest comments yet on a growing trade dispute, South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged Japan on Monday to lift recently tightened controls on high-tech exports to South Korea, which he said threaten to shatter the countries' economic cooperation and could damage Japan more than South Korea. The signs read: "Denounce, Abe's government." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — South Korea says the United States fully understands the seriousness of Seoul’s growing trade dispute with Tokyo.

Senior presidential official Kim Hyun-chong made the comments Wednesday after meeting with David Stilwell, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia policy, in Seoul.

Kim says he told Stilwell about Seoul’s position on the trade dispute and that the U.S. diplomat “sufficiently understood the seriousness of this problem.”

South Korea and Japan are key U.S. allies that host a total of about 80,000 American troops. But the Asian neighbours have become embroiled in diplomatic fights after Japan tightened controls on high-tech exports to South Korea.

South Korea’s foreign minister last week discussed the trade issue with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo by phone.

The Associated Press