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International relations

Japan considers reassigning diplomat in South Korea after gaffe

Senior envoy used explicit remark to criticize Moon

Hirohisa Soma, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, visits South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on July 13.   © Yonhap/Kyodo

TOKYO -- The Japanese government is looking into reassigning an embassy official in Seoul in the near future after he used sexual imagery when commenting on South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Hirohisa Soma, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy, reportedly reportedly suggested to a journalist at a South Korean broadcaster that Moon was playing tug of war with himself over soured bilateral relations. The embassy condemned the remark on Saturday.

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