Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono and South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha did not even shake hands after the meeting and quickly left the venue. The meeting came as Japanese-South Korean relations nosedived after Japan downgraded South Korea’s trade status. Pompeo, Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono and South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha were holding three-way discussions Friday on the sidelines of an Asian security forum in Bangkok. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said Friday South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young told Amb. Moon says Japan’s decision was retaliation against South Korean court rulings that called for Japanese companies to compensate South Korean plaintiffs for their forced labour during World War II.

Source: thestar August 02, 2019 03:01 UTC