South Korea has rejected Japan’s move to internationalize the issue of the Dokdo islets, known as Takeshima in Japan, after a visit to the islets by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

Escalating tensions in an already strained relationship between South Korea and Japan.

At the heart of the latest row are the disputed islands claimed by both sides.

Tokyo recalled its ambassador to Seoul in protest against Lee Myung-bak’s surprise visit to the disputed islets on Friday.

Now Japan says it’s considering seeking international mediation.

Koichiro Gemba, Japanese Foreign Minister, said, "We are looking into bringing this case to International Court of Justice to seek a peaceful solution while improving our internal system to respond territorial disputes."

South Korea says that Japan’s move is to "make the Dokdo issue an international dispute".

A senior official speaking on condition of anonymity says since South Korea has not accepted compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Japanese move is unrealistic. He noted Seoul must consent before the issue can be sent to the court.

Previously, Japan brought the islets dispute to the ICJ in 1954 and 1962.

The islets are located in the east of the Korea Peninsula. They contain frozen natural gas deposits potentially worth billions of dollars.

South Korea has maintained control of the islets for decades since the end of the Japanese occupation.

But Japan maintains that the rocks are its territory, renewing the claim last month in an annual defense report.

The dispute has even spilled over to the London Olympics. South Korean football player Park Jong-woo was banned from the medal ceremony for displaying a sign supporting his country’s sovereignty over the islets.