Seoul: The South Korean government on Tuesday "strongly" protested after Japan reiterated its territorial claim to the easternmost South Korean islets of Dokdo in this year's defense white paper. "The government strongly protests Japan's reiteration of its unjust territorial claim to Dokdo," South Korea's foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement, describing the islets as South Korean territory in terms of history, geography and international law.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the spokesperson also called for the "immediate" withdrawal of Japan's claim, warning that the government will respond sternly to any provocations from Japan regarding Dokdo. The ministry also plans to bring in an official from the Japanese Embassy in Seoul later in the day to lodge a formal complaint.
Following a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day, the Japanese government released its annual defense white paper, referring to Dokdo by the Japanese name, Takeshima, and describing it as part of Japan's territory. The territorial issues over the islets "still remain unresolved," the white paper said, marking the 21st consecutive year the document has included Japan's claim to Dokdo.
Dokdo has long been a recurring source of tension between the two neighbors, as Tokyo continues to make the sovereignty claims in its policy papers, public statements and school textbooks. South Korea maintains a small police detachment on the islets, effectively controlling them.