Japan demands Koreas pull dessert from summit menu because it features disputed islands
The mousse, called ‘Spring of the People’, features islands that lie about halfway between the East Asian neighbours
Japan has demanded that South Korea rethink a mango mousse dessert it plans to serve at a North-South summit dinner on Friday which features a map of the Korean peninsula, including islands disputed with Japan, a recurring irritant for Tokyo.
The mousse, subtitled “Spring of the People” in a publicity photo, features islands known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in Korea, which lie about halfway between the East Asian neighbours in the Sea of Japan, which Seoul refers to as the East Sea.
“It is extremely regrettable,” a Japanese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Wednesday, adding that Japan had lodged a protest. “We have asked that the dessert not be served.”
Japan complained to South Korea about fans waving a flag with a similar design at a friendly women’s ice hockey match at the Winter Paralympics between the combined North and South Korean team and Sweden in March.
The menu, revealed on Tuesday, will including the North’s signature dish of cold buckwheat noodles served in a cool mild broth and garnished with pieces of meat and vegetables. The South has its own varieties but even its diners tend to favour the Pyongyang version.
