Japan Recalls Ambassador to South Korea

Japan has recalled their ambassador to South Korea in response to what they call an "utterly unacceptable" act by South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak.

On Friday, President Lee became the first South Korean president to visit an island chain that is disputed by the two countries.

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said that Japan is, "given no choice but to take suitable measures against it".

South Korean officials state that the visit was not meant to cause issues between the countries.

However, it was only last week that Japan reiterated their claims to the islands, which have been occupied by South Korea since the end of World War II.

Ambassador Mutoh's absence is expected to be a short, most symbolic one, but it does show a strain between the two countries which are normally quite close, in working together.