South Korea on Thursday rebuffed a Japanese request that the release of postage stamps featuring a disputed island in the Sea of Japan be scrapped.
"The release and distribution of the stamps is fundamentally a matter of our own authority," Korea Post, South Korea's postal service, said in a statement.
The state-run postal service said it will release the stamps, which show Tok-do Island, known as Takeshima in Japan, as scheduled on Jan. 16. The island is claimed by both countries.
Park Jay Q, director general of Korea Post, said his office will send a letter of protest to the Japanese government via diplomatic channels.