Korea to Recall Ambassador to Japan

Seoul Maps Out Countermeasures to Tokyo’s Claim Over Dokdo

By Na Jeong-ju

Staff Reporter

President Lee Myung-bak will recall South Korea's ambassador to Japan Wednesday in protest of Tokyo's decision to define South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo as its territory in guidebooks for history teachers.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan also called in Japanese Ambassador Toshinori Shigeie and delivered a message of protest.

``It is deeply regrettable and disappointing that Tokyo has once again laid claim to Dokdo, which is part of South Korea's territory, historically, geographically and under international laws,'' Lee said. ``I will deal sternly with any attempts to ignore Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo.''

Political parties also called for strong action against Japan. In a statement, the governing Grand National Party (GNP) called Japan's claim an ``act of aggression and madness.''

The strong words came after Tokyo said it would refer in a middle school teaching guide to the islets as Japanese territory. The document for teachers and textbook publishers is non-binding, but will likely influence textbook contents.

Korea's Ambassador to Japan Kwon Chul-hyun visited the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo in the afternoon to officially protest the ``distortion.''

Cheong Wa Dae said Seoul is considering boycotting the summit talks between the leaders of South Korea, China and Japan, scheduled for September in Japan.