Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda says territorial disputes must be handled in line with international laws.

In a speech delivered at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Noda said that UN members must accept the International Court of Justice’s compulsory jurisdictions.

His comments apparently are directed at South Korea which has refused to refer a conflict with Japan over the Dokdo islets in the East Sea to the International Court of Justice.

However, Noda did not mention South Korea, China or Dokdo and the Senkaku Islands in his UN speech.