On July 15, the government urged the Japanese government to "immediately withdraw" its repeated claims of sovereignty over Dokdo. Japan has been making such unfounded claims for 21 consecutive years since 2005. In response, both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense summoned officials from the Japanese Embassy to lodge formal protests.
Lee Jaewoong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in a commentary that, "We strongly protest the Japanese government's repeated unjust claims of sovereignty over Dokdo?territory that is clearly our inherent land both historically, geographically, and under international law?through the Defense White Paper announced on July 15."
He further emphasized, "The government reiterates that any claim by the Japanese government over Dokdo, which is the inherent territory of the Republic of Korea, has absolutely no impact on our sovereignty. We will respond firmly to any provocation by Japan regarding Dokdo."
In this regard, Lee Gwangseok, Director-General for International Policy at the Ministry of National Defense, summoned Hirofumi Inoue, Defense Attach? at the Embassy of Japan in Korea, in the afternoon to lodge a protest, urging the immediate correction of the Defense White Paper and calling for an end to such actions in the future. The Ministry of National Defense stated that Director-General Lee reaffirmed that "Dokdo is clearly our inherent territory both historically, geographically, and under international law," and emphasized that "any attempt to undermine sovereignty over Dokdo will be met with a firm response."
On the 15th, when the Japanese government adopted the Defense White Paper containing claims of sovereignty over Dokdo, Yoshiyasu Iseki, Charg? d'Affaires at the Embassy of Japan in Korea, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also summoned Yoshiyasu Iseki, Charg? d'Affaires at the Embassy of Japan in Korea, to convey its protest. When asked by reporters whether he would consider withdrawing Japan's position in light of future-oriented Korea-Japan relations, Iseki remained silent and proceeded to the meeting room.
Earlier that day, the Japanese government adopted the 2025 Defense White Paper at a Cabinet meeting, which included the statement that "the territorial issue of Takeshima (the name Japan uses for Dokdo), Japan's inherent territory, remains unresolved." It was also reported that maps depicting Japan's maritime and airspace labeled Dokdo as "Takeshima," including it within Japanese territorial waters.
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