SKorea Prime Minister visted disputed islands

South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on Tuesday visited a set of islets at the centre of a territorial dispute with Japan, a trip that has been criticised by Tokyo.

Han is the highest-level official ever to travel to the rocky outcroppings, which lie about halfway between the Korean peninsula and Japan. He was accompanied by culture and transportation ministers and stayed there for an hour.

During his visit, Han also stressed that the Dokdo islets, known as Takeshima in Japan, belongs to South Korea.

"Dokdo, the son of Ulleung island, is historically, geographically and nationally our land and our territory. This son island is our offspring."

The brief visit immediately came under criticism from Tokyo.

Nobutaka Machimura is Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary.

"I don't think taking an action like this to highlight our differences is appropriate. We think it is important to deal with the matter calmly. "

South Korea has also planed to hold an annual naval drill near the islets on Wednesday.

(Editor: Wang Wenwen)