Meanwhile, the Republic of Korea and Japan are engaged in a territorial standoff over the islets of Dokdo (called Takeshima in Japanese). In early August, Lee Myung-bak became the first South Korean president to visit the islets;
与此同时，韩国和日本陷入了独岛（日本称为竹岛）之争。8月初，李明博称为第一位访问该列岛的韩国总统，日本政府的反应是将主权问题上诉到了联合国国际法庭。