South Korea, Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines were among the first countries Saturday to hail the birth of a princess to the Crown Prince and Princess.
South Korean President Kim Dae Jung sent a message of congratulations to the Emperor on the Crown Princess' delivery of a baby girl, Yonhap News Agency reported.
"The people of (South) Korea and I send our warmest congratulations on the birth of an Imperial grandchild, which the Imperial family and the entire Japanese people have been looking forward to," Kim was quoted as saying in the message.