Disputed islands stir tensions between South Korea, Japan

(CBC) - Tensions are rising between South Korea and Japan over disputed islands on their sea border.

South Korea has mobilized its coast guard after Japan announced plans to conduct ocean bed surveys near the disputed islands.

South Korea claims the islands and calls them Dokdo.

Seoul has threatened to repel by force any unauthorized Japanese ships trying to enter its economic zone.

It says Japan would be responsible for any consequences.

Coast guard vessels and a surveillance plane have been sent to monitor the area.

Japan calls the islands Takeshima and announced earlier this week it intends to conduct an oceanographic survey in the area.

South Korea says Japan is trying to formalize a claim that dates back to its colonial occupation of Korea that ran from 1910 until the end of the Second World War.

© the CBC, 2006