TOKYO -- Japanese government refused to take the letter, written by Japanese Prime Minister to South Korean President, returned by Seoul Thursday, reported Asahi Shimbun.

The report said that an official from the South Korean embassy in Tokyo paid a visit to Japanese foreign ministry Thursday evening, probably with the letter, but failed to enter.

The foreign ministry explained that the South Korean embassy did not make any appointment for meeting, so the visitor was refused to enter.

Japan sent a letter to South Korea to protest President Lee Myung-bak's visit to the disputed islands and remarks made by Lee regarding Japan's Emperor Akihito.

In the letter, sent last Friday, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Japan will propose to resolve the territorial dispute peacefully under the international law and urged Seoul to act with a broad view of bilateral relations. ?

Noda proposed taking the territorial dispute to the International Court of Justice, a move dismissed by Seoul as " unworthy of consideration."