Japan to remove South Korea from preferential treatment list

Japan will decide on Aug. 2 to remove South Korea from its list of countries allowed under preferential arrangements to buy products that could be diverted for military use, sources familiar with the plan said Friday.The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to endorse South Korea's removal, which will likely take effect in late August, according to the sources. South Korea will become the first country to lose its position on Japan's "white list" after gaining the status in 2004.Taking South Korea off the white list would further raise tensions with Seoul at a time when Tokyo has said…READ FULL ARTICLE