A Japanese daily says South Korean provincial authorities are canceling exchange programs with Japan set for this summer as bilateral tension escalates over the Dokdo issue.

According to the Tokyo Shimbun daily, a trip had been planned for high school students from Musashino, Tokyo to come to Korea next month. However, the trip was cancelled on Korea's request.

Some ten Japanese students were to stay in Seoul's Gangdong district for four days and hold exchanges with Korean students.

In addition, plans for bilingual teachers of Japanese and Korean who were set to teach in Shimane prefecture were also called off. Shimane shares sister ties with Korea's North Gyeongsang province education bureau.

The daily said the Dokdo issue is hurting the friendship of the two countries.