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Japan held an annual rally on Friday over Tokyo’s claim to a set of tiny islands controlled by South Korea, which has been at the centre of a long-standing territorial feud.
Some 500 people flocked to the event in Shimane prefecture in western Japan, including the highest-ranking Japanese government official ever to attend and local and national politicians.
Seoul reacted angrily to the rally and the expected presence of Aiko Shimajiri, a parliamentary secretary in Tokyo’s Cabinet Office, with foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young describing it as “greatly regrettable”.
“Japan should not conduct such behaviour (if it hopes) to promote friendship between Seoul and Tokyo,” he added before the ceremony began, warning of “appropriate measures”.
Tokyo refers to the islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) as Takeshima while they are known as Dokdo in South Korea.
“Takeshima is an integral part of our country,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference in Tokyo.
“We dispatched our parliamentary secretary as a matter of course.”
Police officers were deployed to guard the Shimane Prefectural Assembly Hall, the venue of the rally, as protesters from both countries were expected to stage separate demonstrations outside.
Relations between the two countries have regularly been strained by the territorial dispute and other contentious issues arising from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.
The territorial row deteriorated last year following a surprise visit by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to the island chain, as Tokyo remains embroiled in separate territorial spats with China and Russia.
Japan’s conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who swept national elections in December, sent a message to South Korean president-elect Park Geun-hye last month seeking a new start to a relationship dogged by bitter historical disputes.
During his past stint as prime minister, Abe angered South Koreans by denying the Japanese military’s direct involvement in forcing women into sexual slavery during the second world war.


Japan and South Korea clash over islets as old grievances resurface

South Korea vows ‘stern response’ as Japan renews claim to disputed Liancourt Rocks

Japan’s renewed sovereignty push over disputed Liancourt Rocks irks South Korea, China

Refuel row: Japan rescinds airbase access to South Korean jets over Dokdo islets dispute

Liancourt rocks

Japan stages rally over disputed islands with South Korea

A protester takes part in an annual Takeshima Day anti-South Korea rally in Tokyo on Friday over the disputed islands called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea. Photo: Reuters

A protester holds a sign which reads 'Takeshima is traditionally Japanese territory'. Photo: Reuters

South Koreans shout slogans denouncing Japan for holding an annual event to promote its claim to the disputed Dokdo/Takeshima islets in South Korea on Friday. Photo: EPA

Japan, South Korea plan first formal meeting since islands dispute

The disputed islands, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan. Photo: AFP

South Korea renames peaks of disputed Dokdo islands

The disputed islands - called Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan. Photo: Xinhua

South Korean lawmakers visit islands disputed with Japan

Dokdo or Takeshima islands are claimed by South Korea and Japan. Photo: Xinhua

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