South Korea blasts Japan’s ‘irrational’ decision to quarantine its citizens

Bloomberg

South Korea retaliated against Japan for what it called an “irrational and excessive” request for its citizens to voluntarily quarantine themselves, as Tokyo’s outbreak-control measures renewed tensions between the neighbours.
South Korea is raising its advisory for all of Japan to Level 2, or “refrain from travel,” first deputy foreign minister Cho Se-young said in a statement. It also said it would halt its visa-waiver programme for Japan starting from March 9. Authorities had pledged “corresponding measures” to Japan’s actions, while the South Korean foreign ministry also said it would summon the Japanese ambassador.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “deep regret” over Japan’s latest travel restrictions in a statement, saying they came “without prior or sufficient discussion with us, and we strongly urge these measures be immediately withdrawn.” The ministry hinted at deeper mistrust between the two sides, saying “we cannot help but be suspicious of a separate intention other than prevention of the virus.”
In Tokyo, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters the policy was a non-binding, voluntary request for quarantine, adding the government was asking visitors from South Korea and China to stay indoors at hotels and homes for two weeks.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s government has lodged repeated protests in recent days as some 100 nations placed travel bans or restrictions on arrivals from his country, where authorities are coping with the world’s largest tally of confirmed cases outside China. Japan joined the trend with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying his country on Monday would start quarantining visitors from China, the country with the most confirmed infections, and South Korea, which has the second most.
South Korea is especially suspicious of the move by Japan, which comes as the two sides attempt hold together an uneasy truce after a bitter trade and diplomatic feud last year. The dispute is rooted in disagreements over whether Japan has shown proper contrition for its 1910-45 occupation of the Korean Peninsula.
The next round of talks aimed at resolving trade issues between the two nations, which was supposed to take place in Seoul, will be conducted instead via video conference, South Korea’s trade ministry said in a statement.
South Korea also said it will apply a “special entry procedure” to all visitors coming from Japan. The visa-issue process will include health checks, it said.
Moon, whose party faces a crucial legislative election next month, has been criticised at home for not imposing tough measures on visitors from China, its biggest trading partner. Japan’s own travel measures came after Abe faced pressure over his coronavirus response, which was initially seen as muted in comparison to other countries.
Moon’s approval rating inched up to 44% from 42% a week ago, a Gallup Korea tracking survey showed.

Moon reversed a slide from last week when people saw his initial response as ineffective, and has won support as he has framed his response as part of a nationwide “war” to halt the virus.
Why Japan and South Korea Have Their Own Trade War: QuickTake
Flights from China and South Korea will be restricted to Narita International Airport near Tokyo and Kansai International Airport in Osaka, while arrivals by ship will be halted, Abe said Thursday. Japan will suspend some visas already issued to Chinese and South Korean nationals, he added.
Prior to the move, Japan had banned entry to foreigners who had been in the hardest-hit areas such as South Korea’s Daegu city. Health Minister Kato said Friday that South Koreans and Chinese visitors would be asked to quarantine themselves at hotels and homes, and Kyodo News reported his ministry as saying that the quarantine was a request and non-binding.