Lee Myung-bak flew to the islands, which are known as Dokdo in South Korea and as Takeshima in Japan. 

 

Japan had urged him to call off the visit, saying it would affect ties. 

 

Both South Korea and Japan say they have a historical claim to the islands, and the issue has been a long-standing thorn in relations. 

 

The islands, which are roughly equidistant（等距的） from the two countries, are small but lie in fishing grounds which could also contain large gas deposits. 

 

South Korea has controlled them since 1954 and stations a small coastguard detachment（分遣队） on them.

 

Mr Lee is the first South Korean leader to visit the islands. The visit was announced by his spokeswoman early on Friday. 

 

South Korea has not yet confirmed that he is there, but several Japanese media outlets¹ say he has landed. 

 

"If the visit is made, it would go against our country's position and so we strongly urge its cancellation," Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba told journalists. "We must respond to it firmly."

 

He said the visit "would definitely have a large impact" on ties. 

 

The South Korean president was first due to visit Ulleung Island before flying on to the disputed area, his spokeswoman said.

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