Japan, S. Korea not to hold foreign ministerial talks in Singapore

TOKYO, July 18 (Kyodo) - Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said Thursday it is unlikely that Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers will hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of a regional security forum in Singapore next week.

''Currently, unfortunately, I have been told it is now difficult to have a Japan-South Korea foreign ministerial meeting in Singapore,'' where the annual ASEAN Regional Forum will be held from Tuesday to Thursday, Machimura said at a news conference.

His remarks were made after Japan decided Monday to refer to a disputed set of islets in the Sea of Japan, which are called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea, in a teaching guideline for junior high schools, drawing protests in South Korea.

''But I think it is important for responsible people in charge of diplomacy to have candid discussions especially at a time like this,'' Machimura added.