S Korea to build naval base near disputed islet

The base will be able to accommodate Aegis destroyers and amphibious landing ships once the construction is completed in 2015, according to Chung Mee-Kyung of the ruling Grand National Party, who is also a member of the parliamentary defense committee.

The construction will cost 352 billion won (300 million U.S. dollars), she said.

Ulleung Island is located some 90 kilometers west of the disputed islets known as Dokdo here and Takeshima in Japan.

The sparsely inhabited islets lying in waters rich in marine life have been subject to Japan's repeated territorial claims, a source of diplomatic row between the two Asian neighbors.

South Korea has a coast guard unit stationed on the East Sea islets, a show of its effective control, but Japan describes it as illegal occupation.

The new base on Ulleung Island will allow South Korean warships to reach the islets in 95 minutes in an emergency, faster than Japanese ships, according to Chung.

"Dokdo has a very special symbolic meaning to South Koreans," the lawmaker told parliament. "Now our longstanding wish to protect Dokdo will come true."

For full story go to www.news.xinhuanet.com