SEOUL -- South Korea announced Friday it would suspend 90-day visa waivers for Japan and take other measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. These steps are taken as countermeasures to Japan's new border control measures to tighten entry from South Korea that were decided the day before, although the Japanese government has emphasized its decision is based on such scientific evidence as the viral infection rates among countries and regions.
According to South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the measures would include suspending the validity of already-issued visas for Japanese. Those countermeasures are likely to contribute to reducing the number of visitors from Japan. South Korea would also strengthen procedures for all foreigners entering the country from Japan.
South Korea would also raise its travel advisory on Japan from the lowest on the four-level scale to the second lowest in a move to call for refraining from travel to Japan. The measure will become effective from Monday morning, starting at midnight Sunday and coinciding with the implementation of the measures taken by the Japanese government.
In addition, South Korea will narrow down the number of airports for flights from and to Japan, selecting them from Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae and Jeju airports. The ministry has indicated further tightening its measures with regard to Japan as closely monitoring the virus spread in Japan.
First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young, who announced the measures at a press conference, stated that concerns have been raised over Japan's poor epidemic control and management, adding that South Korea will thoroughly control the flow of infected people from Japan using Seoul's advanced and outstanding quarantine systems.
Earlier in the day, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha lodged a protest over Japan's measures against South Korea in a meeting with Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita. Summoning Tomita to the ministry, Kang warned that unless Japan acts on Seoul's demand for quick retraction, the government will have to take necessary measures. Kang has expressed "deep regrets" over the measures decided by the Japanese government and criticized them "not only unfriendly but also unscientific."
Based on scientific evidence
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi justified Japan's measures Friday, by presenting figures on the ratios of people infected with the virus per 10,000 people in the population. The minister made such remarks at the House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs. According to the minister, the figures as of Thursday stood at 1.12 patients in South Korea, most affected among the world's countries and regions, followed by 0.58 in China.
Motegi argued at a press conference that the response from South Korea is based on misunderstanding, emphasizing that the Japanese measures are not the result of diplomatic viewpoints to other issues.
The Foreign Ministry sought understanding from the governments of China and South Korea over the measures prior to announcing them on Thursday by stressing the steps would be temporary, valid until the end of March. A senior foreign ministry official said: "No political intentions are connected. We have no choice but to persistently explain our position that the steps are necessary for Tokyo and Seoul to work together to fight against the epidemic."
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga also emphasized Friday at a press conference the need to convince South Korea through a full explanation of the measures. "The measures are taken only for a certain period of time to greatly beef up border control," Suga said.
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