[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The People Power Party criticized the government for not properly protecting Hambakdo, stating on the 120th anniversary of Dokdo Day that "the government has an obligation to protect our territory and territorial waters."
On the 25th, Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement, "Coastal artillery of the North Korean military has been installed on Hambakdo, San 97, Maldo-ri, Seodo-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon Metropolitan City, and the North Korean flag is flying, causing residents of Seodo-myeon to feel anxious about military threats."
In commemoration of 'Dokdo Day,' Spokesperson Bae emphasized the government's duty to protect territory and territorial waters, stating, "The Board of Audit and Inspection ruled in March this year that Hambakdo falls under North Korean jurisdiction, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport did not even assess its official land price." He pointed out, "(Hambakdo) has been officially registered as our land since 1978 and has been managed by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Forest Service, the Cultural Heritage Administration, and Ganghwa-gun, but it has been neglected."
He added, "Not a single blade of grass or handful of soil on our land, which was protected through countless wars, is insignificant," and said, "The People Power Party will do its best to uphold the spirit and efforts of our ancestors who defended Dokdo and to protect the territory of the Republic of Korea."
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