International politics will literally be on the menu during US President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea on Tuesday, after it was revealed that shrimp caught in disputed waters will be served up at a state banquet in Seoul.

The four-course meal at the presidential Blue House on Tuesday evening to honour Mr Trump and his wife Melania, will feature shrimp caught in the waters off Dokdo, islands controlled by South Korea but at the heart of a decades-long territorial dispute with neighbouring Japan.

One of Mr Trump’s goals on his 12-day trip to Asia is to boost trilateral cooperation between the US, South Korea and Japan, who are both key allies in countering the nuclear missile threat from North Korea despite simmering diplomatic tensions between them.

Asked about the shrimp, Japan’s top government spokesman said it was important to avoid any actions that would have a negative impact on relations between the three allies.