TOKYO, April 20 (UPI) -- The dispute over small islands between Japan and South Korea in the Sea of Japan is heating up.
Kyodo news agency reported on April 19 that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is urging South Korea to remain calm over Tokyo's intention to conduct a maritime survey near the islands, called Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan.
Koizumi said, "'I think it would be better (for South Korea) not to get so excited. Even if the other side is agitated, Japan should deal with it in a level-headed manner."
The South Korean coast guard has sent nearly 20 patrol and other vessels to the islands to block Japanese survey ships.
Japan's Foreign Ministry's press secretary, Yoshinori Katori, told journalists that if South Korea impounds the Japanese survey vessels it will be violating international law, as such action is "not permitted" by the 1994 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which both countries have signed.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told reporters that while Japan is proceeding with the survey, Tokyo is hopeful "of attaining a peaceful settlement."
