The South Korean presidential office said Japan had apologized and agreed to reconsider trade restrictions, but Tokyo denied.

South Korea and Japan continue to be caught up in the new controversy just days after Seoul announced an extension of the Military Intelligence Sharing Agreement (GSOMIA) with Tokyo. President Moon Jae-in's office said South Korea decided to extend GSOMIA because Japan was "aware" and agreed to review export restrictions with the country.

However, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later stated that his administration did not completely compromise trade with South Korea. Japanese media also called Korea's decision a "clear diplomatic victory" for Prime Minister Abe.

South Korean presidential officials (the Blue House) immediately strongly condemned Japan for what they called "distorted" information about the latest agreement between the two countries. Chung Eui-yong, director of the National Security Office, said on November 24 that South Korea had given a note of protest against the issue and Japan apologized.

"We will clarify once more. Our side has made a complaint to Japan and they have apologized," Green House secretary Yoon Do-han issued a statement today, emphasizing that this was the "only truth". .

Less than two hours later, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga rejected South Korea's statement, claiming export restrictions were "completely unrelated to GSOMIA". "It is not helpful to comment on any comments from Korea, but they said the Japanese government apologized to be false," Suga said during a brief meeting today.

Japan-Korea relations are at their lowest level in 50 years. President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have not had an official meeting for more than a year.

The conflict between the two countries is said to have stemmed from a South Korean court ruling last year over the use of forced labor in the period 1910-1945, which required Japan to compensate victims of exploitation. during the period when the Korean peninsula was a colony of this country.

Tokyo then decided to restrict exports of high-tech materials and removed the Seoul name from the "whitelist" exempt from trade restrictions. South Korea strongly condemned the move, accusing Japan of using goodwill to retaliate against a court ruling.