Japan has expressed disatisfaction with a South Korean tourism company's decision to ban Japanese citizens from boarding its passenger ships.

Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Takahashi Chiaki told the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun that it is inappropriate to prohibit only Japanese citizens from boarding the South Korean ships, as Japan has positive ties with South Korea.

He said if it is true that Japanese nationals are banned, Japan would be obliged to respond.

The South Korean company Seaspovill decided to indefinitely ban Japanese nationals from boarding its ships in a show of protest against Japanese lawmakers' early August attempt to land on Ulleung Island.

It is believed the Japanese lawmakers intended to make territorial claims to the nearby Dokdo Island.

Seaspovill’s ships operate between the east coast of the Korean peninsula with Ulleung Island and the easternmost Dokdo islets.