the south korean government is planning to build more facilities on the takeshima islands in the sea of japan. the japanese government claims sovereignty over takeshima based on historical facts and international law. the south korean side disagrees. it calls the islands dokdo, and it has coast guards there. officials with south korea's ministry of land, tranceport and maritime affairs say they will build a break water with a 210-meter pier. the structure will be capable of handling 5,000-ton passenger liners. the ministry says it will also construct an underwater observatory and a wave energy power plant. the estimated cost, $340 million. work will happen between 2013 and 2016. a pier to accommodate smaller vessels already exists. south korea seems to be building the new pier to encourage more of its citizens to visit the islands. the dispute over this territory has been going on for decades. in march, the south korean government criticized japan for approving school textbooks describing the islands as "inherent japanese territory." this new project could heighten diplomatic tension