Disputed islands belong to South Korea: US
Updated
The United States says it will recognise South Korea as the owner of a tiny group of islands halfway between South Korea and Japan.
The move reverses last week's decision to list the islands as belonging to no state - infuriating Seoul, which is engaged in a simmering dispute with Japan over claims to the islands.
South Korea's presidential spokesman welcomed the reversal, calling it a sign of the "deep trust and friendship between President Lee Myung-Bak and Mr Bush.
But President Bush says the dispute over the islands will ultimately have to be settled between Tokyo and Seoul.
