An aerial view of the remote islands dis(01 of19)
Open Image ModalAn aerial view of the remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
An aerial view of the remote islands dis(02 of19)
Open Image ModalAn aerial view of the remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (C)(03 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (C) visits remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak poi(04 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean President Lee Myung-Bak points through the window of a helicopter at the remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (L)(05 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (L) shakes hands with a police guard during a visit to remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (C)(06 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (C) looks at a large image of a South Korean flag during a visit to remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
A policeguard with a rifle is seen befor(07 of19)
Open Image ModalA policeguard with a rifle is seen before a South Korean landing ship with helicopters on board, on the remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak pos(08 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean President Lee Myung-Bak poses for a picture next to a rock inscribed with the words reading \'Republic of Korea territory!\' during a visit to remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak pos(09 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean President Lee Myung-Bak poses for a picture next to a rock inscribed with the words reading \'Republic of Korea territory!\' during a visit to remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean landing ship with helicopte(10 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean landing ship with helicopters on board near the remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (6t(11 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (6th R) and other officials offer a silent prayer during a visit to remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (C)(12 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (C) visits remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (R)(13 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (R) visits remote islands disputed with Japan, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on August 10, 2012. Lee Myung-Bak paid the unprecedented visit to the remote islands disputed with Japan, sparking anger in Tokyo which recalled its ambassador from Seoul in protest. The South has stationed a small coastguard detachment since 1954 on the islands, whose ownership has been disputed for decades between South Korea and its former colonial ruler Japan. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean a university students tour(14 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean a university students tour the Korean-controlled islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) -- known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea on July 15, 2008. South Korea on July 15 tightened security around a group of disputed islands as a long-running territorial row with Japan flared up, but Tokyo called for calm. AFP PHOTO/KIM JAE-MYOUNG (Photo credit should read KIM JAE-MYOUNG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean a university students tour(15 of19)
Open Image ModalSouth Korean a university students tour the Korean-controlled islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) -- known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea on July 15, 2008. South Korea on July 15 tightened security around a group of disputed islands as a long-running territorial row with Japan flared up, but Tokyo called for calm. AFP PHOTO/KIM JAE-MYOUNG (Photo credit should read KIM JAE-MYOUNG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
A South Korean policeman stands on guard(16 of19)
Open Image ModalDOKDO, REPUBLIC OF KOREA: A South Korean policeman stands on guard on top of disputed islets controlled by South Korea, known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese, in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) 05 July 2006. The South Korean Foreign Ministry expressed \'strong regret\' over Japan\'s demand it halt an ocean survey by a ship which entered what it considers to be its maritime economic zone. AFP PHOTO/JEON YOUNG-HAN (Photo credit should read JEON YOUNG-HAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Seaguls fly near the disputed two rocky(17 of19)
Open Image ModalDOKDO, REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Seaguls fly near the disputed two rocky Dokdo islets, known as \'Takeshima\' in Japanese, in the East Sea, 28 April 2005. AFP PHOTO/KIM JAE-HWAN (Photo credit should read KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
A South Korean anti-ship gun (L) sits on(18 of19)
Open Image ModalDOKDO, REPUBLIC OF KOREA: A South Korean anti-ship gun (L) sits on the disputed Dokdo islets, known as \'Takeshima\' in Japanese, in the East Sea, 28 April 2005. AFP PHOTO/KIM JAE-HWAN (Photo credit should read KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The South Korean police base on the disp(19 of19)
Open Image ModalDOKDO, REPUBLIC OF KOREA: The South Korean police base on the disputed Dokdo islets, known as \'Takeshima\' in Japanese, in the East Sea, 28 April 2005. AFP PHOTO/KIM JAE-HWAN (Photo credit should read KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)