A Chinese man currently jailed for attacking the Japanese Embassy in Seoul earlier this year will stand trial to decide if he will be extradited to Japan, officials here said Friday.

In accordance with an extradition treaty with Tokyo, Seoul's Justice Ministry requested a local court to make a decision on whether to hand over the 38-year-old man surnamed Liu to Japan, after his release from a Seoul prison next Tuesday, the officials said.

Liu received a 10-month term for hurling Molotov cocktails at the Japanese Embassy building in January to protest against Tokyo's refusal to apologize for its war crimes.

He is also reportedly responsible for an arson attack which caused minor damage at Japan's controversial Yasukuni shrine in December of last year. The shrine is dedicated to 2.5 million Japanese killed in wars - including top war criminals - and is often seen as a symbol of the country's wartime aggression.

Japan asked South Korea through formal diplomatic channels to hand Liu over for trial.

"After reviewing relevant laws, similar cases, and circumstances around the incident from various angles, (the ministry) judged that Liu's crime is pertinent under the extradition act and treaty," the official said.

Following the ministry's decision, prosecutors later in the day requested a warrant to arrest Liu and the court will soon decide whether to approve that warrant, officials said.

If the warrant is issued, prosecutors request that the court evaluate his extradition within three days. The judge should make then a ruling within two months.

If the court decides to extradite Liu, the Justice Ministry will then notify the Japanese law enforcement authorities.

Following Japan's request to extradite Liu in May, Seoul also received an informal request from China to repatriate him.

The incident has caused a diplomatic foray between Tokyo and Beijing. (Yonhap News)