South Korea Strongly Protests Japan Regarding Dokdo Island Claim

South Korea urges Japan to withdraw its claim to Dokdo Island. The claim is included in the Japanese Blue Book.

AP PHOTO/MINISTRY OF DEFENSE/JOINT STAFF

The photo released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense shows a Russian early warning aircraft, A-50, flying over an island controlled by South Korea on Tuesday (23/7/2019). The island is named Takeshima by Japanese authorities. Japan has lodged a protest against Russia for allegedly violating Japanese airspace.

SEOUL, TUESDAY - Relations between Seoul and Tokyo are still up and down. Japan has again claimed the territorial area of ​​Dokdo Island or Takeshima Island in the latest statement published in the Blue Book or Japan's Annual Diplomatic Report. South Korea strongly protested this. Seoul then summoned the Japanese Ambassador to South Korea.

The strong protest, quoting the South Korean news agency Yonhap, was filed by the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday (April 16, 2024). The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement to refute Japan's claim on Dokdo Island (Korean name) or Takeshima Island (Japanese name).

Also read: Japan Gets Along for World Peace and Prosperity

Quoting The Korean Herald, a spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lim Soo-suk, strongly protested against the Japanese government, which repeatedly made unfair sovereignty claims on Dokdo. Lim emphasized that Dokdo is an integral part of South Korea's territory, both historically, geographically, and according to international law.

AP PHOTO/AHN YOUNG-JOON, FILE

In a photo taken on April 28, 2005, a member of the South Korean Coast Guard is seen monitoring the waters around Dokdo Island, or according to the Japanese, known as Takeshima Island.

"The (South Korean) government urges the Japanese government to immediately withdraw these claims," ​​he stressed.

Blue Book

The Diplomatic Bluebook is the annual publication of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through the bluebook, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlines the objectives and activities of Japan's foreign policy. The latest Diplomatic Bluebook was reported to the Cabinet by Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.

One statement in the latest Japanese Diplomatic Bluebook is about the territorial claim of Dokdo Island or Takeshima. "Takeshima cannot be denied as an area that is inherently Japanese, based on both historical facts and international law," the Japanese government emphasized in the book.

Also read: Japan-South Korea agree for the sake of world peace and prosperity

The diplomatic document also reaffirms Japan's position. Tokyo views that South Korea has illegally claimed Takeshima. On the other hand, according to Seoul, Japan's claim has no basis in international law. As reported by The Korean Herald, this claim has consistently been included in Japan's diplomatic documents since 2018.

AP/THE U.S. AIR FORCE/SOUTH KOREA DEFENSE MINISTRY

In a photo released by the US Air Force via the South Korean Ministry of Defense, the B-52H bomber aircraft of the US Air Force (middle), F-16 fighter jet, South Korean Air Force F-15K fighter jet (top left), and Japanese Air Force F-2 (bottom left) are seen flying in formation during joint exercises near the Korean Peninsula on Sunday (22/10/2023).

South Korea also denies the statement about the occupation. South Korea asserts that they have long maintained effective control over Dokdo by permanently placing security personnel there.

Through that statement, the South Korean Government once again clarifies that any claim by Japan regarding not affecting South Korea's sovereignty is unfounded. "We clearly affirm that we will continue to respond firmly in the future," the statement reads.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs also summoned Taisuke Mibae, the Deputy Head of the Japanese Embassy mission in Seoul, on Tuesday morning. Mibae was called by Seo Min-jung, the Director General of Asian and Pacific Affairs at the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, Mibae did not respond to media inquiries regarding the protest.

Also read: Japan-South Korea Forget Hostilities for a Moment

Referring to the official website of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan has controlled Takeshima island since the mid-17th century and reiterated Japan's sovereignty over the island in the early 1900s.

AP PHOTO/AHN YOUNG-JOON

A large TV screen installed at the Seoul Train Station in Seoul on Sunday (28/1/2024) displayed a footage of North Korea's missile launch during a news program. The test aggravated the tension between North Korea and South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

The conflict between South Korea and Japan regarding their claim over the disputed island has been ongoing since World War II. In addition to being known as a volcanic island, Dokdo, located on the eastern tip of South Korea, also has a source of drinking water.

Important partners

Despite inviting protests, in the latest Diplomatic Blue Book, Japan also calls South Korea an important neighboring country.

Japan emphasizes the importance of expanding cooperation and collaboration in various fields and working together as partners to open the way for a new era. The designation of South Korea as a partner by Japan also appears for the first time since the 2010 Diplomatic Bluebook.

In the book, Japan also stated that there has never been a time when close cooperation between the two countries was more necessary than now, given the challenging security environment in the Indo-Pacific region. Japan highlighted the importance of Japan and South Korea increasing cooperation on global issues, as bilateral relations return to a better track. (REUTERS)