KOREAN NET

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 16 blasted Japan's false territorial claim to Korea's easternmost island of Dokdo through Tokyo's Diplomatic Bluebook, urging an immediate retraction. (Korea.net DB)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 16 released a strong protest against Japan's territorial claim to Korea's easternmost island of Dokdo contained in the latest edition of Tokyo's Diplomatic Bluebook released that day.

In a commentary, the ministry's Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Lim Soosuk said, "The government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) strongly protests against the Japanese government's repeated inclusion of unjust sovereignty claims over Dokdo, which is clearly an integral part of the ROK territory historically, geographically and under international law."

He also urged the Japanese government to immediately retract the claim.

"The ROK government makes it clear once again that the Japanese government's unjust claims over Dokdo, an integral part of the ROK territory, do not have any impact on the ROK's sovereignty over it, and that the ROK government will continue to respond firmly to any such claims."

Also that day, the ministry summoned Taisuke Mibae, minister and deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to explain Korea's stance on Dokdo and convey its protest.


By Park Hye Ri
hrhr@korea.kr