S Korea protests against Japan’s territorial claims to disputed islets

South Korea protested Japan’s renewed territorial claims to the disputed islets known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs called these claims unjust and reiterated that Dokdo is an integral part of South Korean territory. The ministry urged Japan to retract these claims, which were included in Japan’s 2024 defense white paper. South Korea stated that any Japanese claims will not affect its sovereignty over Dokdo and warned that such provocations hinder future-oriented relations between the two countries. Japan has made these claims annually since 2005. South Korea restored its sovereignty over Dokdo after liberation from Japanese colonization in 1945 and has maintained control with a police presence. South Koreans view Japan’s claims as a denial of colonial history, as Dokdo was the first territory occupied by Japan.

Source – CGTN