South Korean rally against Japan amid island row
- 12 years ago
(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Around 500 protesters gathered in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul on Thursday (August 23) waving their fists and South Korean flags, as they chanted anti-Japanese slogans.
Some protesters wore headbands emblazoned with, "We will defend Dokdo until we die!", referring to the disputed islands, known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan.
Both South Korea and Japan claim the islands, which are believed to be in an area holding potentially lucrative gas reserves.
Local media said on Thursday the South Korean government had decided to return a protest letter by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda sent to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak over Lee's visit to the disputed islands.
Prime Minister Noda's letter expressed regret over Lee's August 10 visit to the islands and his remarks that Japanese Emperor Akihito should apologise for Japan's colonial rule if he wants to visit South Korea.
Around 500 protesters gathered in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul on Thursday (August 23) waving their fists and South Korean flags, as they chanted anti-Japanese slogans.
Some protesters wore headbands emblazoned with, "We will defend Dokdo until we die!", referring to the disputed islands, known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan.
Both South Korea and Japan claim the islands, which are believed to be in an area holding potentially lucrative gas reserves.
Local media said on Thursday the South Korean government had decided to return a protest letter by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda sent to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak over Lee's visit to the disputed islands.
Prime Minister Noda's letter expressed regret over Lee's August 10 visit to the islands and his remarks that Japanese Emperor Akihito should apologise for Japan's colonial rule if he wants to visit South Korea.