Lee Jaemyung Administration Conducts First Dokdo Defense Drill at Usual Scale... Japan Protests

The military authorities have conducted the first Dokdo defense drill under the Lee Jaemyung administration. The Japanese government protested against the military's Dokdo defense drill, claiming that Dokdo is clearly Japan's inherent territory.

On the 15th, a citizen passed in front of a photo of Dokdo at the Northeast Asian History Foundation Dokdo Experience Center in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The Japanese government distributed about 6,100 copies of the children’s edition of the Defense White Paper, which claims "Dokdo is Japan’s inherent territory," to elementary schools nationwide. Photo by Yonhap News

A military official stated on the 17th, "The Navy and the Coast Guard conducted the East Sea Territory Defense Drill today in the East Sea, at a scale similar to previous years." The military authorities conduct the Dokdo defense drill, also known as the East Sea Territory Defense Drill, twice a year near Dokdo. This drill was also a regularly scheduled exercise.

As was the case under the Yoon Sukyeol administration, this drill was conducted privately. Navy and Coast Guard vessels participated in the exercise, but Air Force and Navy air assets did not take part. The Marine Corps did not conduct a Dokdo landing drill either.

This was the first Dokdo defense drill conducted this year. Another Dokdo defense drill is expected to be held at the end of the year. Ahn Kyubaek, the nominee for Minister of National Defense, explained in a written response to an inquiry from Representative Kang Daesik of the People Power Party, "The East Sea Territory Defense Drill is a regularly scheduled exercise conducted twice a year, and I understand that it will be carried out this year as usual, at a scale similar to previous years."

However, the Japanese government objected to the Dokdo defense drill. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Kanai Masaaki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, lodged a protest with Kim Janghyun, Minister for Political Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, and that Mibae Daisuke, Minister at the Embassy of Japan in Korea, lodged a protest with Kim Sanghun, Director-General for Asia and Pacific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Japan maintains the position that Dokdo is clearly Japan’s inherent territory under international law and that it cannot accept this drill.