On the 24th, the government restored Japan to the white list (regions with preferential export of strategic goods). On the 9th and 18th of 2019, the restoration took place three years and seven months after the Korean government removed Japan from the white list against Japan’s unilateral export restrictions, taking a step forward in restoring export relations between the two countries.
On the same day, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy confirmed and announced an amendment to the Notice on Export and Import of Strategic Materials, which includes the restoration of the Japanese white list and the expansion of export control items to Russia and Belarus.
The notification classified Japan from ‘Gaui area 2’ to ‘Ga area’. Ga region included 28 countries including the US, UK and France on the whitelist, but this increased to 29 countries including Japan.
When a Korean company exports strategic materials to Japan, the approval review period is shortened from 15 days to 5 days, and the documents to be submitted are also simplified from 5 types to 3 types.
There are observations that the government first includes Japan on the white list, and that the Japanese government’s procedure for restoring Korea’s white list is imminent.
In addition, from the 28th, export control items to Russia and Belarus will be expanded from 57 to 798 items.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy added 741 items (including 8 technologies), such as industrial machinery, steel and chemistry, automobiles, and quantum computers, which are likely to be used for weapons, to the situational permission items.
If it is included in the situation permission item, export is possible only with government permission according to the Foreign Trade Act.
Permission is granted only in exceptional cases that meet certain requirements, such as prior contracts.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to strengthen crackdowns and enforcement so that situational permission items do not bypass third countries and flow into Russia and Belarus.
When President Yoon Seok-yeol recently mentioned the possibility of military aid to Ukraine, the Russian government regarded it as an intervention in the war and expressed its position that it could provide arms to North Korea. Immediately after President Yoon’s remarks, export restrictions are enforced, and the Russian government’s reaction is noteworthy.
(Sejong = News 1)
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.