A leading Japanese daily says Tokyo is considering referring a territorial dispute with South Korea to the International Court of Justice.

The Sankei Shimbun quoted government sources as saying Wednesday that the Japanese government is considering such a move amid South Korea’s active efforts to boost its sovereignty over Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo in the East Sea.

On Tuesday, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto told members of the House of Councilors' committee on foreign affairs and defense that all necessary means must be taken to peacefully resolve the dispute over Dokdo, which is called “Takeshima” in Japan.

According to the report, Japan has already twice proposed the issue be referred to the International Court of Justice. The earliest proposal was in 1954 and the latest in 1962.