Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba has mentioned a need to improve diplomatic relations with South Korea’s next administration.

Regarding strained bilateral relations over the Dokdo islets, Gemba told a news conference on Tuesday that cooperation with South Korea is very important for Japan in terms of security.

He added that Tokyo needs to consider ways in which the Dokdo issue will not affect its relations with Seoul’s next government.

However, the foreign minister reaffirmed Japan’s position that Tokyo will take the Dokdo issue to the International Court of Justice. He noted that Japan will continue to make territorial claims over the islets.

It is the first time that Gemba mentioned the need to improve relations with Seoul since President Lee Myung-bak visited the Dokdo islets in the East Sea on August 10th.