Abe out to mend Japan's economy ties with South Korea

Female customers drinking beer at a restaurant. Many South Koreans are fans of Japanese beer. But they were left disappointed recently after beer became the latest victim of tensions between the two countries over trade and wartime issues. - Reuters

TOKYO: Many South Koreans are fans of Japanese beer. But they were left disappointed recently after beer became the latest victim of tensions between the two countries over trade and wartime issues.

South Korea was by far the biggest market for Japanese beer exports, accounting for 61.2%t of the total exports last year. However, Japanese beer sales to the neighbouring country hit zero in October as boycotts of Japanese products intensified in South Korean cities.