Japan has repeated demands for the South Korean government to end subsidies to its shipbuilding industry, in the first round of ­bilateral talks under the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s dispute resolution process.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that officials from the two countries had met in Seoul.

“At the meeting, Japan called for the early removal of subsidies, as well as asking South Korea to provide details of the measures it has undertaken,” the statement said.