Korea vows stern response against Japan's repeated Dokdo claims
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Feb. 13. Yonhap
The foreign ministry said Tuesday it will take stern action against Japan's repeated territorial claim to Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, as Tokyo is set to send a senior government official to a regional event marking its territorial claim to the islets.
"We will firmly and sternly respond to any unlawful claim by Japan over Dokdo," foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong told a regular press briefing.
"No territorial dispute exists over Dokdo," Lee said, reaffirming that the rocky islets are clearly Korea's territory in terms of history, geography and international law.
Lee's remarks came as some Japanese municipalities are planning to hold an annual ceremony commemorating Takeshima, the Japanese name for Dokdo, on Saturday. A vice ministerial-level official from the Japanese government is expected to attend the upcoming event.
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.
Korea maintains a small police detachment on the islets, effectively controlling them. (Yonhap)