CANBERRA: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday set Japan a November deadline to stop Southern Ocean whaling or face an international legal challenge to its yearly cull, while Tokyo called for calm dialogue.

Whaling has been a sticky issue between the two major trading partners, though both governments in the past have vowed not to let it affect ties. Rudd made his comments on the eve of a visit by Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

Rudd said that while Australia preferred to find a diplomatic solution to its standoff with Tokyo over the annual whale cull near Antarctica, it was serious about a threat made two years ago to challenge the hunt in an international court.