South Korean MPs visited isolated set of islands in Japan

A group of South Korean MPs has visited an isolated set of islands at the centre of a territorial dispute with Japan - prompting an immediate protest from Tokyo.

Seventeen members of the parliamentary National Defence Committee flew to the Dokdo islands (known as Takeshima in Japan) on military helicopters for a day-long visit on Tuesday, an aide to committee member Han Ki-Ho said.

The trip - described as a government inspection session - was aimed at checking security measures around the islands which are guarded by the South's coastguard, the aide said.