Japan ready to fight over whaling

Japan says it will respond to Australia's threat to take Tokyo to the International Court over its so called scientific whaling program.

Australia is set to put its case forward to the International Whaling Commission for a phasing out of Japanese whaling in the Great Southern Ocean.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says the government has thought very carefully about the issue.

The comments were made after the Foreign Minister met his Japanese counterpart in Perth.

The whaling Commission development follows Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's threat to take Tokyo to the international court by the end of the year, unless Japan halts its so called 'scientific' whaling program.

The country's foreign minister Katsuya Okada says Australia's threat of international legal action is disappointing, but shouldn't affect relations between the two countries.

He says Japan believes the whaling issue should be discussed thoroughly with the IWC.

He also says if legal action becomes a reality, Tokyo will seek to represent its case with the IWC that its activities are legal.

The Japanese fleet reportedly kills hundreds of animals during annual hunts in Antarctic waters.

"It's very unfortunate the Australian side has indicated it will take action in an international court," Mr Okada said in the city of Perth after meeting Mr Smith.

Meanwhile Environment Minister Peter Garrett has described Australia's diplomatic efforts to end Japanese whaling as orderly.

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop says Labor should never have made a threat to take Japan to court.

But Mr Garrett has defended their commitment to the promise telling ABC Radio the Rudd government has laid out its bottom line during intensive negotiations through the IWC.

He says the orderly process has always been underpinned by the Rudd government's strong opposition to so-called scientific and commercial whaling.