7 September 2012 Last updated at 00:32 ET <\/p>\n
South Korea's coast guard is leading military exercises near islands also claimed by Japan, amid ongoing tension over the territorial row. <\/p>\n
The operation near islands known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan also involves the army, navy and airforce, South Korean media said. <\/p>\n
Tensions have risen since a visit to the islands by South Korea's leader. <\/p>\n
Japan wants international arbitration over the islands, but South Korea has rejected the proposal. <\/p>\n
Last month Japan briefly recalled its ambassador to Seoul in protest over a surprise visit to the islands by President Lee Myung-bak. <\/p>\n
South Korea, which controls the islands, has maintained a small police force there since 1954. <\/p>\n
\"The exercise is carried out under the scenario in which coast guard takes a leading role in repelling foreign civilians invading territorial waters near Dokdo or trying to land on Dokdo,\" Col Lee Boong-woo was reported as saying by Yonhap news agency. <\/p>\n
South Korea has decided to exclude exercises that involve landing on the islands in a move that is ''mindful'' of the diplomatic row with Japan, the Yonhap report said. <\/p>\n
Previous exercises had involved marines landing on the island, it added. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Original post: <\/p>\n
S Korea in islands military drill<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 7 September 2012 Last updated at 00:32 ET South Korea's coast guard is leading military exercises near islands also claimed by Japan, amid ongoing tension over the territorial row. The operation near islands known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan also involves the army, navy and airforce, South Korean media said. Tensions have risen since a visit to the islands by South Korea's leader Continue reading