Singer starts swimming relay to Dokdo

Singer Kim Jang-hoon began his three-day project Monday to swim the 220 kilometers distance in a relay from an eastern port to Dokdo, South Korea's easternmost islets in the East Sea.

Kim jumped into the sea off Uljin in a blue and black full-body swimming suit after having a launching ceremony with about 40 university students and dozens of other participants attending.

The students, all members of a swimming club at the Korea National Sport University, will take part in the 55-hour-long relay led by Kim.

The singer, known for his love of Dokdo, is expected to celebrate his 45th birthday on the sea Tuesday.

Kim's swimming team is scheduled to arrive at the volcanic outcroppings on the East Sea at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the Korean Liberation Day.

The event comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Korea and Japan following Korean President Lee Myung-bak's unprecedented visit Friday to the islets to which Japan has long laid claims.

"I will never make such a comment as 'Dokdo Is Our Territory' when I arrive there," Kim told reporters before leaving. "It's meaningless to do so because they are undeniably our territory." (Yonhap)