Japan's Absurd Claims on Dokdo Again... Government Summons Japanese Minister-Counselor in Korea to Protest

Shimane Prefecture Holds Dokdo Day Event
Japanese Government Vice-Minister Level Official Also Attends
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Dokdo Is Clearly Our Territory"

Mibae Daisuke, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Korea, is being summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 22nd in relation to the Takeshima Day event. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd, Japan reiterated its claim that Dokdo is Japanese territory on the occasion of "Takeshima Day" (the name Japan uses for Dokdo). Our government summoned a representative from the Japanese Embassy in Korea to lodge a protest.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that in the afternoon, they called Mibae Daisuke, the Charg? d'Affaires of the Japanese Embassy in Korea, to the Jongno District office in Seoul to convey their protest against the hosting of the "Takeshima Day" event.

In a spokesperson's statement issued that day, the Ministry said, "We strongly protest against Shimane Prefecture's so-called Dokdo Day event, which is attended by high-ranking officials from the central government, as Japan repeatedly makes unjust territorial claims over Dokdo. We once again sternly urge the immediate abolition of this event."

They added, "Dokdo is clearly our inherent territory from historical, geographical, and international law perspectives. The Japanese government must immediately cease its unjust claims over Dokdo and humbly face history."

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol also held a bilateral meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the previous day, protesting Japan's territorial claims over Dokdo.

On the same day, Shimane Prefecture held the Takeshima Day event in Matsue City, the prefectural capital. From the Japanese government, Shojiro Hiranuma, a vice-ministerial official responsible for territorial issues, attended.

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun stated in an editorial that "Although Korea-Japan relations have improved since the summit in March last year, there has been no progress regarding Takeshima, which Korea illegally occupies. The government must persistently urge Korea to seek a peaceful resolution."