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Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
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The territorial dispute over Dokdo Island has taken a new turn. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Friday claimed that the island called Takeshita in Japanese is the country's sovereign territory. He called on Seoul's discretion over the issue.
However, he had a negative view on his Government Administration Minister's retaliatory plan to issue Tokyo's version of the stamps, saying it would be undesirable to further aggravate and complicate the matter.
Koizumi's remarks may have managed to put the brakes on the tit-for-tat stamp issuance but observers expect the remarks made by Japan's chief state administrator will create new ripples over the controversy.
Earlier Friday Taso Ahro, Japan's Government Administration Minister said, although politically sensitive, he wanted to propose Japan's postal administration issue a commemorative stamp of the island to protest Korea's initiative.
The Japanese media quoted other Tokyo ministers as also taking issue with Korea's stamp issuance plan. But Korean analysts criticize such development as a show of acute conservatism and nationalism that are dominant in Japan's political circle.
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A complete view of Dokdo
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Arirang TV
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