TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) - A group of South Korean lawmakers visited islands disputed with Japan, sparking a protest from the Japanese foreign ministry as the countries' already tense relationship deteriorates further.
Six Korean lawmakers on Saturday flew to the islets, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in part to protest Japanese curbs on shipments of essential components for making
smartphone chips, South Korea's chief export.
"Regardless of the South Korean government's efforts,
Japan has not only dropped
South Korea from the "white list", but also, it is claiming Dokdo as part of its territory, worsening the South Korea-Japan relations," said Sul Hoon, a ruling
Democratic Party lawmaker.