Japan to tighten curbs on tech exports to South Korea - Reuters

A Japanese official at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry told a briefing on Monday, Japan will tighten restrictions on exports of high-tech materials used in smartphone displays and chips to South Korea, effective July 4, Reuters reports.

This move comes in response to a lack of action by Seoul to address issues related to the top court ruling last October, which ordered Nippon Steel to compensate for forced labor during World War Two.

The official said: “South Korea has failed to show any measures on the forced labor issue ... and damaged mutual trust. As trust has been lost, we cannot have a dialogue and are unable to ensure that proper export controls are being taken.”