Japan urged South Korea on Thursday not to carry out a live-fire exercise near a group of disputed islets in the Sea of Japan, dpa reported.
"We cannot accept this. It is extremely regrettable," Chief Cabinet
Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference.
Seoul told Tokyo that the drill will be held in waters south-west of
the islets between 9 am (0000 GMT) and 5 pm on Friday, Suga said.
Japan lodged a protest through the South Korean embassy in Tokyo and told Seoul to cancel the drill, he said.