S. Korean students swim to disputed islets

A student swims during a relay swimming event on the East Sea off Uljin, east of Seoul August 14, 2012 as the team swims toward a set of remote islands called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese. Yonhap reported that South Korean singer Kim Jang-hoon, rock band Pia members and actor Song Il-kook with about 40 students from Korea National Sports University began 220 kms (137 miles) of relay swimming early Monday from the Jukbyeon port in Uljin, 330 km (205 miles) southeast of Seoul, to go to the islets. The team will arrive at the islets in the afternoon of August 15, the 67th anniversary of Liberation Day which commemorates independence of Korea from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. The musicians will hold a concert upon their arrival. Singer Kim arranged the event to promote South Korea's sovereignty over the island. South Korea controls the islands with a coast guard presence and plans to beef up maritime research while Japan lays claims to the territory. [Photo/Agencies]