Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook Claiming 'Dokdo is Japanese Territory' and 'Third-Party Repayment' Must Be Scrapped

Citizens’ Group for Forced Mobilization Issues Statement of Condemnation
"No Legal Responsibility Fulfilled by Japanese Government and Defendant Companies"

A support group for victims of forced labor under Japanese colonial rule condemned Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook, which asserts "Dokdo is Japanese territory" and advocates for third-party compensation for victims of forced mobilization during the colonial era, demanding its immediate withdrawal.

The Citizens’ Group for Forced Mobilization under Japanese Occupation and the Korea-Japan Justice and Peace Action issued a statement of condemnation on the 9th, stating, "Regarding the issue of 'comfort women' and forced labor, the Japanese government and defendant companies have ignored the judgments of the Korean judiciary and have yet to fulfill any legal responsibility," and demanded, "Withdraw the shameless Japanese Diplomatic Bluebook immediately."

They pointed out, "In the 2025 edition of the Diplomatic Bluebook released by Japan on the 8th, it repeated the unfounded claims that 'Dokdo is Japan's inherent territory both in terms of historical facts and under international law' and that 'Korea continues its illegal occupation of Dokdo without any legal basis under international law, including by stationing a guard unit.' Regarding the issue of Japanese military comfort women, it stated, 'Although Korean courts in 2021 and 2023 denied the application of the principle of sovereign immunity in lawsuits related to comfort women and recognized the Japanese government's liability for compensation, Japan has consistently expressed its position that it does not recognize Korean jurisdiction and that the lawsuits should be dismissed,' thus evading the compensation orders of the Korean judiciary."

They further criticized, "On the issue of compensation for forced labor, the Bluebook repeated the existing stance that the matter was resolved by the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Agreement. After mentioning the so-called third-party compensation solution announced by the Korean government in March 2023, the Bluebook emphasized that 'in December last year, payment was made by a Korean foundation to 21 former workers who were plaintiffs.'"

The group questioned, "Are you saying you will close your ears to clear historical facts, the judgments of the Korean judiciary, and the voices of the international community calling for the restoration of human rights and justice?" and asked, "Does the Japanese government believe it can evade responsibility by applying its own arbitrary standards for its own convenience?"

They added, "This is not the first time the Japanese government has distorted history for its own benefit and asserted sovereignty over Dokdo; it is repeated at every opportunity. This is because the government turns a blind eye to Japan's liability for compensation as determined by the Korean judiciary. The Japanese Diplomatic Bluebook must be withdrawn immediately."