Japan "Strongly Protests South Korean Vessel's Marine Survey Activities Around Dokdo"

The Japanese government announced on the 11th that it strongly protested against a South Korean research vessel conducting marine survey activities around Dokdo.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release on the same day, "We confirmed that the South Korean research vessel 'Haeyang 2000' was deploying something like a wire into the sea within our country's (Japan's) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) southwest of Takeshima (the name Japan claims for Dokdo)."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added, "There was no prior consent or application from the South Korean side."

After confirming the South Korean vessel's survey around Dokdo, Hiroyuki Namazu, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, conveyed to Kim Jang-hyun, Political Minister at the South Korean Embassy in Japan, and Mondo Yamamoto, Political Minister at the Japanese Embassy in South Korea, respectively, a strong protest demanding the immediate cessation of the survey.

The Japanese government, which claims Dokdo as its territory, has protested every time South Korea conducts marine surveys around Dokdo. In June, Japan lodged multiple protests against South Korea's surveys.

In response, the South Korean government has consistently stated, "Dokdo is our inherent territory, clearly established historically, geographically, and under international law," and "We cannot accept any claims by Japan regarding territorial sovereignty."