South Korea's trade deficit with Japan rises to 10.06 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months of this year, compared with 8.35 billion U.S. dollars during the same period of 2006, said a report of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on Monday.

From January through April, South Korea imported 18.4 billion-U. S. dollar worth of goods from Japan, while exporting roughly 8.4 billion U.S. dollars, said the KITA.

If the current trend continues, South Korea's full-year trade deficit with Japan could exceed the record high of 24.5 billion-U. S.-dollar recorded last year, it said.

South Korea's trade deficit with Japan has been steadily rising in recent years. South Korea relies on Japan for key parts, components, and manufacturing machinery that are needed to maintain its export-led economy.