1. The government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) expresses deep regret over and strongly protests the Japanese government’s official removal of the ROK from its whitelist on August 28, and once again calls for an immediate withdrawal of the measure.

2. In particular, the ROK government cannot but deplore the fact that although the ROK government has continued to call for the withdrawal of the improper measure and for joint efforts to seek a constructive solution to the issue through dialogue, the Japanese government pressed ahead with the measure that will have negative impact on not only the ROK-Japan economic cooperation but also the regional prosperity and the global free trade order.

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3. The Japanese measure is not part of a review of export control implementation but a clear retaliatory trade measure against the ROK Supreme Court’s ruling on the victims of forced labor during Japan’s occupation of Korea as well as a significant challenge that shakes the foundation of the long-standing friendly and cooperative relations between the ROK and Japan. The ROK government points out that the Japanese government’s refusal to accept, for unconvincing reasons, the ROK government’s repeated offers for dialogue between the export control authorities is in no way conducive to the resolution of the issue.

4. The ROK government once again strongly urges the Japanese government to withdraw all of its arbitrary and unilateral measures immediately and to sincerely engage in dialogue and consultations to seek a constructive solution.

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° The ROK government also urges the responsible officials of the Japanese government to be prudent in their words and actions in order for them not to have negative impact as the two countries continue to hold dialogue and consultations.