Japan seeks dialogue as South Korea prepares for 'diplomatic war'
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-24 16:02

Japan called for dialogue to ease mounting tension with South Korea whose President Roh Moo-Hyun told the country to prepare for a "diplomatic war" with its neighbour.

Anger has been growing in South Korea over Japan's claim to a small group of islands and its refusal to respond to Roh's calls for an apology over colonial rule.

"While thoroughly analyzing (Roh's statement), we must listen to the South Korean government's circumstances and argument," said Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda, the government spokesman.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Hiroyuki Hosoda called for dialogue to ease mounting tension with South Korea whose President Roh Moo-Hyun told the country to prepare for a 'diplomatic war' with its neighbour. [AFP/File]

"We must exchange our views," he said.

Roh on Wednesday issued a statement warning there "could be a hard diplomatic war" with Japan "that may reduce exchanges in various sectors and cause economic difficulty."

"But we do not have to worry much about it. ... we are determined to take the hardship on our shoulders if we really have to," Roh said.

He also attacked Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for insisting on visiting a shrine for the Japanese war dead despite protests by Seoul and Beijing.

Last week, Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said Koizumi's planned visit to South Korea in the first half of this year "appears nearly impossible" due to the tension.

But Hosoda expected the semi-annual summit, whose date had not been set, to go ahead, saying: "I doubt there will be any problem barring it."

The Japanese prefecture of Shimane passed a resolution on March 16 stressing a claim to South Korean-controlled islands, known as Takeshima in Japanese and Dokdo in Korean, which are uninhabited but near choice fishing grounds.

Angered, South Korean protestors have burned Japanese flags, cut their little fingers and one man torched himself outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul.

The island dispute came just after Roh called for an apology and compensation from Japan for its harsh rule of Korea from 1910-1945.

Japan said the issue was settled in 1965 when Tokyo signed a treaty restoring diplomatic relations with Seoul and provided Seoul with 800 million dollars in loans and grants.

The disputes have overshadowed what was supposed to be the year of South Korea-Japan "friendship" to mark the treaty's 40th anniversary.

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