South Korea says it will recall its ambassador from Japan in anger over rekindled claims to two disputed islands between the countries.

The move came after Japan announced its intention to recommend in a government teaching manual that students learn about Tokyo's claims to the islands, known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's spokesman Lee Dong-kwan says the president expressed "his deep disappointment and regret" over Japan's claim.

"The Dokdo issue is not only a historical problem but also a territorial sovereignty issue, so it is not a dispute matter. President Lee indicated that the situation has to be dealt with strictly and firmly."

Earlier Monday, Japan's chief Cabinet secretary, Nobutaka Machimura, told reporters that the Japanese government has decide to include the claims into the text book, but he hoped both sides can deal with the issue calmly.

"We would like to avoid a situation where Japan-South Korean relations are gravely affected by each and every issue that comes up. We should both handle such a matter calmly, and we have expectations from South Korea."

Japan and South Korea have long been at odds over the ownership of the two small and nearly uninhabited islets.