SEOUL, April 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyunon Tuesday said his country will strongly and firmly respond to any provocative actions taken by Japan in future.

    Roh made the remarks in his special speech on South Korea-Japanrelations which was being televised to the whole nation.

    Ties between the two neighboring countries strained in recent weeks when the two had serious diplomatic disputes over a group of controversial islets controlled by South Korea.

    The islets is called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese.Both of the two nations claimed the islets are their territory.

    The South Korean president also pledged to protect his country's sovereignty over Dokdo by taking "any necessary measures at any expense or sacrifice." Enditem