South Korea is considering creating a national park around a small island in the Sea of Japan that is the source of a territorial dispute with Japan, a government official said Monday.
South Korea's Environment Ministry is considering designating about 300 sq. km around Ulleung Island, and the adjacent Tok-do Island, known as Takeshima Island in Japan, as a national park in 2004 after consulting with the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry, the official said.
Japan claims Takeshima, but not Ulleung.
The Environment Ministry said the plan is intended to preserve the natural environment of the two islands, but some South Korean media outlets said it is only a ploy to stake a claim to both islands.
The Environment Ministry mapped out the plan after local residents asked that the area around Ulleung be designated a national park, without mentioning Tok-do. The ministry included the disputed island in the plan on its own, the officials said.
The move may spark a diplomatic row with Japan.
Japan has maintained that uninhabited Takeshima, lying halfway between Japan and South Korea, is an indigenous part of Japanese territory.
Tokyo had no comment as of Monday evening.