S.Korea-Japan rift grows over fresh accusation by Seoul

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - South Korea on Wednesday claimed that a Japanese military aircraft "flew close" to one of its navy vessels sailing in the Sea of Japan in a fresh sign of growing tensions between Seoul and Tokyo over the disputed body of water.

"A Japanese maritime patrol plane flew close to a South Korean warship Wednesday,” Korean news agency Yonhap quoted a military representative in Seoul.

"[It is] likely to deepen tensions amid a lingering military radar dispute," the representative said.

Japanese Defense Ministry has yet to comment on the issue.

Seoul's salvo came two days after Japan released what it said was "new evidence" of an alleged hostile act by South Korean forces late last year.

On Monday, Japan unilaterally suspended bilateral military dialogue with South Korea, citing the incident on Dec. 21 when a South Korean warship locked fire-control radar on a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft in the overlapping exclusive economic zones of the two countries.