The government on Tuesday called for Tokyo to explain why a Pusan-registered fishing boat was detained for some 15 hours last Friday and to set up preventative measures against a recurrence of such an incident.

Director-general of the foreign ministry's overseas residents and consular affairs bureau, Kim Kyung-keun summoned Japanese consul general Takaya Abe to his office in the morning to ask for an explanation.

At the meeting, Kim expressed his concern over Japan's move to detain the boat in international waters for such a long period of time without providing measures to maintain condition of the frozen fish on board, even though the South Korean consulate general to Fukuoka demanded its early release immediately after the incident occurred.

Kim voiced his fears that South Korean vessels could face further forced inspections at a time when the nation is still fuming over the history textbook issue.

In response, Abe said he would deliver a report on Seoul's position to his government.