South Korea says to hold talks with Japan on export controls in December

South Korea and Japan have agreed to hold senior-level trade talks in December to discuss Tokyo's export restrictions at the centre of a bitter dispute between the two countries, the South Korean trade ministry said on Friday.

The talks would include Japan's tighter rules since July on the export of three high-tech materials to South Korea and its removal of Seoul from its so-called white list of countries with fast-track trade status, the ministry said. Officials from both countries also met on Thursday to discuss holding the senior-level trade dialogue, according to the South Korean trade ministry.