NEW : Foreign Ministry says recent tensions with China are `` regrettable '' South Korea vowed last month to defend its `` territorial integrity '' Tokyo ( CNN ) -- The islands are privately owned by a South Korean family . The Japanese premier says the government is close to a deal to buy them .
NEW : Foreign Ministry says recent tensions with China are `` regrettable '' South Korea vowed last month to defend its `` territorial integrity '' The islands are privately owned by a South Korean family . The Japanese premier says the government is close to a deal to buy them .