Japanese Foreign Minister's 12th Consecutive Year of 'Dokdo is Japanese Territory' Remarks in National Assembly Foreign Affairs Speech

Since Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2014,
Japanese Foreign Ministers Reiterate Outrageous Claims Every Year
"South Korea, an Important Neighboring Country for Cooperation"

Takeshi Iwaya, Japan's Foreign Minister, claimed in his annual diplomatic speech that Dokdo, Korea's inherent territory, belongs to Japan. The photo shows Takeshi Iwaya speaking at the joint press conference of the South Korea-Japan Foreign Ministers on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News.

In his annual diplomatic speech, the Japanese Foreign Minister claimed for the 12th consecutive year that Dokdo, an inherent Korean territory, belongs to Japan.

On the 24th, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya stated in his regular parliamentary diplomatic speech regarding Dokdo, "Based on the fundamental position that it is Japan's inherent territory both historically and under international law, we will respond resolutely."

Foreign Minister Iwaya's remarks on Dokdo are almost identical to those made last year by former Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. Since former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, during his tenure as Foreign Minister in 2014, referred to "Takeshima in Shimane Prefecture (竹島, the name Japan claims for Dokdo) as Japan's inherent territory" in his diplomatic speech, Japanese Foreign Ministers have repeatedly made outrageous claims that Dokdo is Japanese territory in their annual diplomatic speeches.

However, Foreign Minister Iwaya emphasized that South Korea is "an important neighboring country with which we must cooperate as partners on international community issues," adding, "While we are paying special and serious attention to a series of movements within South Korea, the importance of Korea-Japan relations has not changed at all." He also added that he intends to maintain close communication with South Korea going forward.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also reaffirmed the existing stance in his parliamentary speech on the same day, stating, "South Korea is an important neighboring country with which we must cooperate as partners on various issues in the international community."

In his regular parliamentary policy speech, Prime Minister Ishiba said, "Although there are internal movements in South Korea, the importance of Korea-Japan relations under the current strategic environment remains unchanged." He added, "We will continue to maintain close communication with the South Korean side, including on the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations."