Mar 06 ,2020. 2 hours ago – 20:06 KYODO NEWS

SEOUL – South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung Wha on Friday criticized Japan’s decision to restrict the entry of South Korean travelers, calling the move taken to stem the spread of the coronavirus “unfriendly.”

After summoning Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koji Tomita to the Foreign Ministry to lodge a protest, Kang told him that South Korea strongly demands that the “unfair” and “unscientific” measure be swiftly withdrawn.

Kang said that if the measure is not withdrawn, the ministry cannot help but take reciprocal measures against Japan, such as raising its travel alert level for the country.

Japan announced Thursday that visitors from South Korea and China will be asked to quarantine themselves for two weeks at designated facilities. It is also revoking some visas already issued to travelers from the two countries.

Japan’s move was prompted in part by a surge in infection cases in South Korea and its efforts to contain the epidemic within it, but South Korea’s strong response laid bare, once again, the rocky relationship between the two neighbors, which have long feuded over historical issues.

“It is extremely regrettable that Japan went ahead with those measures without having sufficient consultations and any prior notification,” Kang said.

Tomita responded by saying he will deliver the message to his home country, while explaining that Japan has worries over the deadly virus spreading in the country.

In Tokyo, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the decision was intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus in Japan and should not cause any diplomatic friction between the neighboring countries.

“This is a temporary measure and I don’t believe it will have a harmful effect on Japan-South Korea relations,” he told a press conference.

In a statement earlier Friday, the South Korean Foreign Ministry expressed skepticism about “other intentions apart from the quarantine purpose,” saying the Japanese move has come at a time “when our containment efforts are showing results.”

The South Korean government also held a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday and decided to consider corresponding measures against Japan, according to the presidential office.

The office said Japan’s “opaque and passive containment measures” have caused mistrust of the country in international society.

China has meanwhile signaled that it understands the Japanese move. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said at a press briefing on Thursday that while he had not yet seen a report on the move, “both China and Japan should take appropriate actions based on the spread of the virus.”

Earlier this week, the Beijing municipal government announced the enforcement of a 14-day quarantine and observation for those traveling from severely infected countries, including Japan and South Korea.

South Korea has the largest number of coronavirus infection cases outside China with over 6,200 confirmed. Most cases have been found in the southeastern city of Daegu, where mass transmissions are believed to have occurred among members of a minor Christian sect.

CR: KYODO NEWS