Special report: Islets dispute between ROK and Japan

    SEOUL, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A senior South Korean government official said Friday that South Korea would push ahead the process of renaming sea floor features near the disputed islets of Dokdo when ready.

    "The South Korean government would propose to rename the seafloor features (near the Dokdo islets) when required conditions are ready," the official told foreign correspondents here on condition of anonymity,

    The plan to rename seabed features near the South Korea-controlled Dokdo islets, which Japan also claims sovereignty, is a key issue of the latest territorial disputes between Seoul and Tokyo.

    South Korea insists its rights in waters near Dokdo and were reportedly carrying out a plan to rename the seabed around Dokdo as Japan named tens of seafloor features in the area in 1970s.

    The latest disputes, which was triggered by Japan's plan to survey the seabed near Dokdo in mid-April, was defused last week after diplomats from the two neighbors compromised on a pact that South Korea suspends renaming seafloor topography near Dokdo in June's International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) convention while Japan withdraws the maritime survey plan. Both sides also agreed to meet again on the issue in May.

    "We look forward to holding the meeting (with Japan) as soon as possible," said the official, stressing "South Korea hopes both countries make efforts to resolve the issue through diplomatic measures."

    He also said it is still not time to discuss whether to hold summit between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, as it is necessary to create a mature atmosphere.

    The South Korean-Japanese relations have retrogressed during the past years due to Koizumi's repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, in which war criminals of the World War II are commemorated.

    The office of President Roh Moo-hyun said Friday that a high-ranking task force of the government was kicked off in a bid to protect Dokdo against Japan's repeated claims.

    The new task force, headed by Seo Joo-seok, senior presidential secretary for security policy, consists of assistant minister-level officials from Dokdo-related ministries, including the unification, foreign, defense and maritime affairs ministries.

    "The new task force will coordinate Dokdo-related policies of the concerned ministries and work out Seoul's countermeasures against Japan's claims to parts of the South Korean maritime border in the East Sea," Presidential Spokesman Jung Tae-ho said.

    Roh said in a statement on Tuesday that Dokdo is a symbol of Korea's restored sovereignty, accusing Japan of attempting to claim territorial rights to its former colonial land.

    He declared that his government would end its quiet diplomacy as far as the islets are concerned.

    Dokdo lies 90 km southeast of South Korea's Ulleung Island in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and 160 km northwest to Japan's Oki Island. Enditem