Seoul: The foreign ministry on Tuesday expressed "strong protest" against Japan's territorial claim to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo in its latest foreign policy paper, calling for an immediate withdrawal. Releasing this year's Diplomatic Bluebook, the Japanese government once again renewed its claim to the South Korea-controlled islets, as it did the previous year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the foreign ministry stated, "We strongly protest against the repetition of the unjust territorial claim to Dokdo, which is clearly our territory based on history, geography and international law." The statement emphasized the demand for Japan to immediately withdraw its claim.
The South Korean government committed to responding firmly to any provocations by Japan concerning Dokdo. The ministry plans to summon Taisuke Mibae, the minister at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to formally lodge a protest with Japan later in the day.