NHK reported online today that the city government of Seoul withdrew in March the building permit for a new nine-story Japanese Embassy building to be constructed there. The embassy tore down its old building and obtained a permit from the city in 2015. ROK laws stipulate that construction work has to begin within two years of obtaining a permit although an extension is possible for valid reasons. The Japanese Embassy applied for an extension in 2016 but has reportedly failed to submit documents for another extension, which prompted the city government to withdraw the permit last month. NHK said the ROK media views this incident as signifying that the bilateral relationship is in “its worst state ever.”