Japan-Australia discuss whaling issue

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has met with Japan's Foreign Affairs Minister to discuss their differences on whaling.

A whale is slowly dragged on board a Japanese ship after being  harpooned in Antarctic waters in this 2008 handout photo from the Australian Customs Service.(AFP/Australian Customs Service/File)

One day before Katsuya Okadathe visited Sydney, Rudd set a November deadline for Japan to stop its research whaling programme in the Southern Ocean, or face international legal action.

A Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said Okada would seek clarification of the situation during his meeting with Rudd. Before the meeting, the Australian Prime Minister said he was looking forward to a good discussion with the Japanese, but that his position on whaling is clear.