Japan no longer considers South Korea as a trusted trading partner.
The Japanese cabinet announced on Friday that it is striking its neighbours from a “white list” of countries that have fast-track export status.
Seoul has responded strongly to the decision, with a government spokesperson saying: "Our government will sternly respond to Japan's unfair decision."
The latest development has further soured relations between the two countries.
Japan and South Korea are already at odds over compensation for wartime forced laborers.
Israel military strikes northern Gaza in heaviest shelling in weeks
Russian drone attack injures 7 in Ukraine's Odesa, officials say
Indian court extends pre-trial detention of opposition leader Kejriwal
Taiwan rattled by more than 200 quakes, but no major damage
Malaysian navy helicopters collide in mid-air, 10 killed
