(VOVworld) - Japan's Vice Foreign Affairs Minister, Shuji Kira, has hinted that his country will delay taking the issue of the Dokdo islands to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Dokdo islands (Photo: Internet)

Kira said at a press conference on Thursday that Japan will review its decision to take the issue of islands known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea to the ICJ. The delay could help ease current strained relations. According to Jiji Press, some foreign officials say this is only Mr. Kira’s opinion and there is no change in the ministry’s position on taking the Dokdo issue to the ICJ. The Japanese government proposed taking the Dokdo issue to the ICJ after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited the disputed islands in August. However, Korea has formally rejected Japan’s proposal.

Hoang Lien Son, VOV correspondent in Japan.