South Korean fighter jets fly patrol over islands disputed by Japan

The neighbors have been locked in a worsening diplomatic and trade row rooted in wartime history and disagreements over compensation for forced laborers during Japan’s 1910-1945 occupation of Korea.

After Japan tightened curbs on exports of high-tech materials vital to South Korea’s chip and display industries in July, each has stripped the other of fast-track trade status.

In addition, South Korea decided in August to terminate an intelligence-sharing pact with its neighbor.

Only when Japan’s “unfair export control measures are resolved” will South Korea consider renewing the pact, foreign ministry spokesman Kim In-chul told a news briefing on Tuesday.

In July, a Russian military aircraft twice violated airspace over the disputed islands and drew hundreds of warning shots from South Korean jets, South Korean officials said, during what Russia said was a long-range joint air patrol with China.

Japan, which said it also scrambled fighter aircraft at the time, lodged a complaint with both South Korea and Russia over the incident.

The islands had 28 South Korean residents as of Tuesday, according to South Korean police.

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