Japan presses claim to S. Korea-held islets at annual event

Japan pressed on Saturday its claim to a pair of South Korea-controlled islets at an annual ceremony amid lingering tensions between the two countries over wartime issues.In a speech, Shimane Gov. Tatsuya Maruyama criticized South Korea, saying it is "strengthening movements to make the occupation of Takeshima an established fact" and called for a resolute response from the Japanese government on the territorial issue.The islets in the Sea of Japan, northwest of the prefecture's main coast line, are known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea.The ceremony has been held every Feb. 2…READ FULL ARTICLE