By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

Disputes over the ownership of the Dokdo islets erupted again between Seoul and Tokyo, Sunday, as the Japanese government is reported to have a plan to state in an educational document that the islets are part of its territory.

The dispute, which was rekindled in recent months, will test bilateral relations which have showed signs of improving after President Lee Myung-bak took office in February as he called for a pragmatic approach on history issues.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Lee Dong-kwan Sunday denied the Kyodo News report that Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda informed President Lee of the plan during the summit talk last Wednesday in Japan.

``No such comments were made during the brief talk. In fact, President Lee had expressed worries over Japan's plan to state in an educational document that it is part of its territory,'' said the spokesman. Lee also said that the islets should not be a topic for territorial dispute.

Another official from the presidential office said on condition of anonymity that Cheong Wa Dae would take countermeasures if the Japanese government goes ahead with the measure as planned.

``The government will wait and see whether the Japanese government makes the statement today and then react to it,'' he said.

A source from the Japanese government was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the government is working on the wording of the statement.

Japan's plan came after the National Assembly here, Friday, issued a resolution urging Japan not to go ahead with the plan to state that Dokdo islets are part of its territory in a supplement of the non-binding educational guideline for teachers and textbook publishers.

The source from the Japanese government was quoted by AP as saying that since Japan claims sovereignty (over the islets), (the South Korean move) has left Japan no choice but to state so.''

After delivering a speech at the opening of the 18th legislature on Friday, President Lee told the leaders of parliament that he sent a strong message to the Japanese Prime Minister during the talk last week that the Japanese government shouldn't pursue the plan.

``I was not given any confirmation from him though,'' said Lee.

Fukuda was quoted by Lee as saying that he fully understood Korea's position on the matter, but Lee said he did not understand exactly what the Japanese leader's words meant.

hkang@koreatimes.co.kr