South Koreans have played a game of basketball on a disputed island amid high tension with Japan over territorial claims.

The Korea Basketball Association held the tournament game with four teams of high school players as well as a friendly match with guards of Dokdo Police Garrison. Japan’s relations with South Korea have worsened after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited a disputed island earlier in the month.

The islands, called Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, are believed to contain frozen natural gas deposits.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has spelled out his country’s claim on the islands. South Korea’s military will hold a 4-day island defense exercise on Dokdo Islands. It is a routine military exercise held every 2 years since 1996.

Kim Young-Woong, Dokdo Police Garrison, said, "There have been so many news stories on Dokdo recently, which might worry people. But they can relax and stop worrying because we will work very hard to protect the islands. "

Lee Jong-Gul, President of Korea Basketball Association, said, "We are sportsmen who are protesting against the claim with the most peaceful and dignified way. Basketball is a sport as well as a peaceful form of diplomacy. Today, we played basketball on Dokdo and clearly showed that this is our territory."