71.   Last month, Hong Kong activist David Chan died when he jumped off a ship with several other protesters near the disputed islands.

72.   Kunashiri is one of a group of four disputed islands north of Hokkaido seized by Soviet forces at the end of World War II.

73.   Last year, he assailed Japan for enforcing its claim to a chain of disputed islands.

74.   Lee said demonstraters also strongly objected to a planned inspection visit to the disputed Diaoyu islands by Japanese lawmakers later this month or in early September.

75.   Meanwhile, the U.S. scientists plan more visits to the disputed island.

76.   Negotiators seeking guarantees that Taiwanese fishermen can operate around the disputed Diaoyu islands left Thursday for talks with Japan.

77.   Moving cautiously to improve bilateral ties, Russian and Japanese officials last February signed an agreement on joint fishing near the disputed islands.

78.   Obuchi was also expected to ask China to stop sending research ships to waters surrounding disputed East China Sea islands now under Japanese control.

79.   Observers say the visit is unlikely to resolve the issue of fishing rights around disputed islands in the Kuril chain.

80.   On Wednesday, Argentine newspapers speculated Prince Charles might add a trip to the disputed islands at the end of an Argentina visit, traveling there via Uruguay.