A group of Japanese lawmakers of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party is expected to proceed with their planned visit to South Korea's Ulleung Island despite the Seoul government banning their entrance into the country.

Japanese media including the Sankei Shimbun reported that lawmakers, including Yoshitaka Shindo will travel to the island on Monday. However the LDP is not expected to officially endorse the trip as the Japanese Diet is currently in session.

On Friday, the Foreign Ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador Muto Masatoshi to South Korea and notified him that Seoul would not allow the lawmakers to enter South Korea. Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Jae-shin told the ambassador that they not pass customs and immigration at the airport if they plan on visiting the island.

The lawmakers of Japan's opposition party say that they aim to examine South Korea's strengthening of effective control over the Dokdo islets by visiting to the nearby Ulleung Island. The lawmakers are also believed to be planning on expressing their territorial claim over the islets while in Ulleung.

The move by the Japanese opposition party has been criticized by both ruling and opposition parties of South Korea as a malicious, calculated attempt aimed at making the Dokdo islets regarded as an area of dispute and encroaching upon South Korea’s sovereignty.