Seoul, Japan Still at Odds Over Fishing

South Korean and Japanese officials said that they failed Monday to resolve a dispute over South Korean vessels fishing for saury in Russian-controlled waters near the southern Kuril Islands.

South Korean fishing boats are scheduled to return to the area on July 15.

"Our fishing in the waters surrounding the Kuril Islands is in line with international law and custom," a Seoul official said. The official demanded that Japan cease its efforts to keep Korean fishermen out of those waters.

"The southern Kuril Islands are clearly our territory," the Japanese government countered. "The agreement to fish in these waters that South Korea signed with Russia is invalid."

Japan also delivered a letter sent by Makiko Tanaka, its foreign minister, to Han Seung-soo, the South Korean foreign minister. Ms. Tanaka reportedly urged Mr. Han to accept Japan's position on the issue.

But a South Korean official pledged Seoul's support for South Korean fishermen.

by Lee Chul-hee