S Korean FM rejects Japanese proposal on Dokdo islands

South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan dismissed a proposal by Japan on Tuesday to jointly refer the issue of Dokdo to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), saying the proposal is "not worth consideration." Kim made the remarks at a parliamentary session hours before the Japanese government made the formal proposal to South Korea by sending a diplomatic document through the Japanese embassy in Seoul, escalating diplomatic tension between the two historical rivals, South Korean News Agency (Yonhap) reported. "Our stance is that there should not exist any territorial disputes over Dokdo because Dokdo is our territory," Kim told lawmakers. "Going to the ICJ is not worth consideration. "What Japan wants is to make Dokdo a disputed territory and referring the issue to the ICJ is met with such an intention," Kim said. Kim also warned that South Korea will take "stern measures (against Japan), because Dokdo is a Korean territory historically, geographically and under international laws," if Japan continues to raise an "unjustified" issue over Dokdo. Kim said the Japanese proposal is not feasible because it must secure South Korea's consent to have the issue heard at the ICJ. Two previous proposals by Japan in 1954 and 1962 were also instantly rejected.