South Korea concerned over US veto on Apple ban

South Korea has voiced concerns over a decision by the U.S. Government to overturn a ban of some Apple models in the United States.

The Obama administration had vetoed a U.S. trade body's ban on the sale of some Apple iPhones and iPads.

The decision is a rare move that upends a legal victory for smartphone rival Samsung Electronics Co.

According to CNET, the decision was made in June by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to implement the limited import ban following a patent infringement dispute with Samsung.

South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy released a statement, expressing concerns about the negative impact that such a decision would have on the protection of patent rights.

It also called for the Obama administration to make fair and reasonable decisions, as Samsung faces a possible import ban on its own products in the U.S. following Apple's claims the Korean manufacturer had infringed on its patents, the report added.

The action marked the first time since 1987 that a presidential administration had vetoed a product ban ordered by the U.S. International Trade Commission.

The report said that the ITC had ordered the ban on some older-model Apple iPhones and iPads in June after finding the products infringed a Samsung patent.