South Korea blasts Japan over virus entry restrictions

Seoul expressed “extreme regret” that Japan will quarantine all visitors from South Korea due to its surging viral outbreak and warned of retaliation if Tokyo doesn’t withdraw the restrictions

SEOUL, South Korea — Seoul expressed “extreme regret” that Japan will quarantine all visitors from South Korea due to its surging viral outbreak and warned Friday of retaliation if Tokyo doesn’t withdraw the restrictions.

The 14-day quarantines announced by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also will apply to visitors from China. Officials at South Korea’s national security council meeting criticized Japan for enforcing the restrictions without consulting on them first.

South Korean Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun said the move amounted to a full entry ban. “(We) consider this as very regrettable and demand the excessive and irrational measure to be immediately withdrawn.”

Relations between South Korea and Japan…