South Korean President Kim Dae-jung arrived in Japan today, determined to attend the closing ceremony of the World Cup soccer final, despite a naval battle that boosted tensions on the divided Korean peninsula the day before.
Shortly after yesterday's firefight between a North Korean warship and a South Korean patrol boat, Mr Kim said he would stick to his planned three-day visit to Japan in part to ease fears about rising tensions on the Korean peninsula.
"The government will take necessary steps so the people can engage in their business without concerns," Mr Kim said today before leaving for Japan. Mr Kim has urged his military to be more vigilant.
A South Korean boat sank during the gun battle and at least four sailors were killed in the worst border clash in three years on the world's last Cold War frontier.
Mr Kim was received today by Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi at Tokyo's Haneda airport.
Topping Mr Kim's agenda for the day was the World Cup final between Germany and Brazil, to be held just south of Tokyo in the port city of Yokohama. South Korea and Japan are co-hosting this year's World Cup, the first held in Asia.
He is scheduled to meet Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday.
The two men are expected to lay the groundwork for official talks on establishing a free trade agreement between Japan and South Korea, the Mainichi Shimbunnewspaper reported today.
AP