New Dokdo Islets Talks Between ROK & Japan

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South Korea and Japan held talks on Monday to take the steam out of a simmering dispute over desolate islands claimed by both countries.

Tensions have flared in the past year and a half over the islands, called Tokto in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, which lie about the same distance from the two Asian neighbours.

Plans by Japan to conduct a maritime survey near the islands in April led South Korea to dispatch about 20 coastguard vessels to head off the survey ship.

The two-day talks in Seoul will address claims for economic exclusion zones around the islands, sitting among rich fishing grounds and above what South Korea says could be billions of dollars’ worth of gas hydrate deposits, officials said.