Kim Jun-hyeok, the elected member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized the Japanese government's claim of sovereignty over Dokdo on the 17th.
Kim Jun-hyeok, a historian, issued a press release on the same day, stating, "Recently, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Dokdo as Japanese territory in its Diplomatic Bluebook and claimed that Korea has been illegally occupying it," and asserted, "Dokdo is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically, and under international law."
He continued, "The Japanese government's claim of sovereignty is an unreasonable demand close to a 'nuisance,'" and pointed out, "The part in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs document stating 'Korea continues illegal occupation of Takeshima by stationing coast guards' is an attempt to distort history."
The Diplomatic Bluebook is an official document recording international affairs and Japan's diplomatic activities over the past year, published annually by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1957. The Japanese government has claimed sovereignty over Dokdo in the Bluebook 17 times since 2008. Since 2018, the Bluebook has intensified its tone by including statements that 'Korea is illegally occupying' the territory.
Earlier, on the 16th, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported the Diplomatic Bluebook containing Japan's claim of sovereignty over Dokdo at a Cabinet meeting.
Kim Jun-hyeok also emphasized, "Attempts to distort the history of Japanese colonial rule continue, such as the recent removal of the term 'military comfort women' from Japanese middle school textbooks," and stressed, "Out of 18 textbooks, 16 describe Korea's 'illegal occupation' as a fact. We must prevent the Japanese government's attitude of ignoring history from being passed on to future generations."
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