"It's an unusual action in terms of diplomatic protocol," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura commented on the decision of South Korea to return Japanese Prime Minister's letter at a press conference Thursday.
"It is inconceivable under normal conditions that letters exchanged between nations' leaders are sent back," he said.
Fujimura's remarks came after a senior South Korean foreign ministry official said Wednesday that Seoul will return a diplomatic letter sent from Tokyo to protest President Lee Myung- bak's visit to the disputed islands and remarks made by Lee and Kim regarding Japan's Emperor Akihito.
In the letter, sent last Friday, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Japan will propose to resolve the issue peacefully under the international law and urged to act with a broad view of bilateral relations.
Japan has sent its ambassador to South Korea back to Seoul on Wednesday after the temporary recall earlier this month in protest against Lee's visit to the South Korean-controlled disputed isles in the Sea of Japan which Japan claims are part of its territory.
