A governor and citizens' groups in Japan called Thursday for South Korean President-elect Park Geun Hye to accept Japan's proposal to settle the Takeshima territorial dispute at the International Court of Justice.
Japan claims the islets in the Sea of Japan are part of the town of Okinoshima, Shimane Prefecture. South Korea, which controls the islets, calls them Dokdo.
Mariko Kajitani, 66, a member of a citizens' group based in Shimane Prefecture, said she hopes Park will respond to Japan's call to jointly file a suit with the international court to settle the dispute, noting that Park's father, the late President Park Chung Hee, normalized diplomatic relations with Japan.
Shimane Gov. Zenbee Mizoguchi issued a statement saying he hopes South Korea's new government under Park will fully look into history on the Takeshima issue and hold talks with the Japanese government.
Park, leader of the conservative Saenuri Party, was elected Wednesday.