Japan's foreign minister on Friday summoned South Korea's ambassador and accused Seoul of violating international law by refusing to join in an arbitration panel to settle a dispute over World War II forced labour.
The neighbouring countries are quarrelling over South Korean court decisions ordering Japanese companies to compensate victims of forced labour during Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
Foreign Minister Taro Kono said after summoning Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo that Japan will "take necessary measures" against South Korea if interests of Japanese companies are harmed, without giving details.
Their talks were held in an icy atmosphere, briefly turning confrontational.
"It is extremely problematic that South Korea is one-sidedly leaving alone the situation that violates the international law, which is the foundation of our bilateral relationship," Kono told Nam.
"The action being taken by the South Korean government is something that completely overturns the order of the international community since the end of the World War II."
"We hope that the Japanese government would withdraw its unilateral pressure including the export restrictions of retaliatory character and return to the stage of diplomatic resolutions."
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