TOKYO--Tensions between Japan and South Korea showed no signs of easing on Friday as Japan's parliament passed a resolution denouncing Seoul's recent actions over a territorial dispute. <\/p>\n
The move comes a day after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Seoul had \"lost its cool\" by attempting to send back a letter of protest he had written to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, following Mr. Lee's visit earlier this month to disputed islands claimed by both countries. <\/p>\n
\"It is extremely regrettable, and we will respond resolutely,\" Mr. Noda told parliament after the passage of the resolution, referring to Mr. Lee's visit to the islets, which are controlled by South Korea. <\/p>\n
The resolution also demanded that Mr. Lee retract comments he made a few days after his visit that were seen as being offensive to Japan's emperor. <\/p>\n
The lower house also voted on a separate resolution protesting the landing on another set of disputed islands by Hong Kong activists. <\/p>\n
The resolutions wrap up a week that saw Tokyo putting pressure on Seoul over the dispute which flared up after Mr. Lee visited the Liancourt Rocks that lie between the two countries, and which are known as Takeshima by Japan and Dokdo by South Korea. <\/p>\n
Mr. Noda is also set to hold a news conference later on Friday over the string of recent land spats with its Asian neighbors. <\/p>\n
In the case of the landing of Hong Kong activists on a Japanese-controlled island, the prime minister has come under sharp criticism for his handling of the row with China, since Japanese authorities chose to deport, rather than prosecute the activists. <\/p>\n
Analysts said that, with the likelihood of a general election in the coming months, Mr. Noda and his ruling Democratic Party of Japan cannot afford to be seen as taking a soft stance on territorial issues. <\/p>\n
\"They need to take a hard line. It's not the usual diplomatic stance of the DPJ,\" said Takehiko Yamamoto, a political science professor at Tokyo'sWaseda University. \"It's because of the elections.\" <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Islands Spat Drags on as Japan Passes Resolution<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TOKYO--Tensions between Japan and South Korea showed no signs of easing on Friday as Japan's parliament passed a resolution denouncing Seoul's recent actions over a territorial dispute. The move comes a day after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Seoul had \"lost its cool\" by attempting to send back a letter of protest he had written to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, following Mr Continue reading