South Korea to void visas of Japanese visitors in virus retaliation

South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, at the Daegu International Airport in Daegu on Friday (March 6). South Korea's total reported infections -- the largest figure outside China, where the virus first emerged -- rose to 6,593. - AFP

SEOUL: South Korea suspended a visa-waiver programme for Japanese nationals on Friday (March 6) in retaliation for what it called an "irrational" plan by Tokyo to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, escalating a diplomatic row over their containment measures.

The two countries have close economic ties and are both major US allies, democracies and market economies faced with a rising China and nuclear-armed North Korea.