22 July
The South Korean government is believed to be more concerned that the outcome of Japan's Upper House election may encourage the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to take a tougher stance toward Seoul.
Tensions between Tokyo and Seoul have escalated due to wartime labor issues, and Japan's tighter export controls on some high-tech materials to South Korea.
Seoul has yet to issue its official reaction to Sunday's election, in which the ruling coalition secured a majority of contested seats.
South Korea's public broadcaster KBS said in its 9 o'clock news program on Sunday night that NHK's exit polls indicate the governing parties are certain to secure a majority in the chamber.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the Abe government is now able to push economic retaliatory measures through parliament as it won the election in which voters were asked to evaluate his long-standing administration.
NHK
