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Amid a territorial dispute between Korea and Japan over Dokdo, a set of islets located between the two countries, a Japanese surveillance plane on Wednesday approached Korean airspace, heightening diplomatic tensions.
Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says about an hour after Japan's Shimane prefecture approved a bill to designate "Takeshima Day" to commemorate Japan's claim over the islets, a Japanese military aircraft approached the southern skies of Dokdo.
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RF-4C recon aircraft, the same kind of aircraft as the Japanese one that approached Dokdo on Wednesday.
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Although the aircraft stayed within Japanese airspace, the Korean military says the fast-approaching plane ignored two warnings, telling it to stop and confirm its position before responding to a third warning and returning to Japan. In response, two Korean military aircraft were dispatched.
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Looking out toward Japan, South Korean Coast Guard unit stands guard over Dokdo on Wednesday.
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Meanwhile, on Thursday, Japanese media reported on Korea's strong reaction to the passage of the bill while expressing concern that the dispute may damage 40 years of diplomatic ties.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that the passage of the bill reflected the frustration of Japanese fisherman, seeking more fishing grounds around Dokdo. Another Japanese daily, the Yomiuiri Shimbun, urged a renegotiation of the fishing zone the two countries drew up around the islands.
Arirang TV
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