S Korea`s Lee stirs up islands dispute

DHAKA: South Korea`s president is visiting islands also claimed by Japan, in a move set to raise diplomatic tensions.

Lee Myung-bak flew to the islands, which are known as Dokdo in South Korea and as Takeshima in Japan.

A Kyodo news agency report said Japan had recalled its ambassador from South Korea.

Both South Korea and Japan say they have a historical claim to the islands, and the issue has been a long-standing thorn in relations.

The islands, which are roughly equidistant from the two countries, are small but lie in fishing grounds which could also contain large gas deposits.

South Korea has stationed a small coastguard detachment on the islands since 1954.

Mr Lee is the first South Korean president to visit them. Then Prime Minister Han Seung-soo visited in 2008, sparking a row with Japan.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1710 HRS, AUG 10, 2012

AKA