The Korean government has once again found itself in a tense situation with Japan after a recent diplomatic move by Tokyo. In response to Japan’s inclusion of a territorial claim to Dokdo in its annual foreign policy report, Korea’s foreign ministry on Tuesday issued a “strong protest.”
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This document, known as the Diplomatic Bluebook, is released by Japan every year to outline its stance on global affairs. Just like the previous year, Japan claimed that Dokdo, a group of small islets located in the East Sea, belongs to them. These islets are currently under Korea’s control, and the Korean government sees them as an undeniable part of its territory.
Reacting swiftly, the foreign ministry issued a firm statement rejecting Japan’s claim. The ministry said that Dokdo is clearly Korean land, supported by historical facts, geographic location, and international law. Officials demanded Japan immediately cancel the claim and stop making what they called “unjust” remarks about Korean territory.
Korea’s statement did not stop there. The ministry declared that it will take strong action if Japan continues to provoke Korea on this issue. This shows just how serious the Korean government is about protecting its control over Dokdo.
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Formal Protest and Diplomatic Action
After releasing its statement, the foreign ministry took an important step to make its opposition clear. It called a top Japanese official to the ministry’s office from the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. This is a formal and official way of showing protest in international relations.
When the Japanese official arrived at the foreign ministry building in central Seoul, a group of reporters was already waiting outside. They asked several questions, hoping for comments about the territorial claim and its effects on the relationship between the two countries. However, the official did not answer any of the questions and walked silently into the building.
This type of face-to-face meeting, especially when it happens suddenly, signals how seriously the Korean government views Japan’s actions. It is also part of the standard diplomatic process between countries to express their opinions, especially when one country feels that its rights are being challenged.
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The foreign ministry’s move to call in the Japanese diplomat reflects its effort to formally register its objection and make Japan aware of Korea’s dissatisfaction with the claim. These kinds of actions have been performed before. Whenever Japan has made similar claims in the past, Korea has responded in a similar way.
Dokdo: A Longstanding Issue Between Neighbors
The Dokdo islets are a small group of rocky formations in the sea between Korea and Japan. Despite their small size, they carry great meaning and pride for Korea. Korea has maintained effective control over the islets for many decades, including the presence of a small security unit and other facilities.
Dokdo’s ownership has long been a source of contention between the two countries. Korea insists that it has had historical ownership of Dokdo for centuries. The government believes that the islets were always part of Korean territory and has repeatedly cited old documents, maps, and other records to support this claim.
Japan, on the other hand, also claims ownership and includes this view in its official government publications like the Diplomatic Bluebook. This causes disagreements every time the report is released.
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Every time Japan makes a statement or includes a claim about Dokdo, the Korean government reacts strongly. Officials say that these claims are not only incorrect but also harmful to peaceful relations. The government continues to see any mention of Japan’s claim as a threat to its sovereignty.
Because both countries see Dokdo as very important, even small diplomatic gestures related to the issue can lead to strong responses. The latest protest from Korea is another chapter in this ongoing territorial disagreement that has lasted for decades.
Though the two countries have other shared interests and often work together in areas like trade and security, the Dokdo issue remains one of the biggest points of disagreement. As long as both sides continue to stand firm on their positions, this issue is likely to come up again whenever either country makes an official statement about the islets.
For now, Korea has made its position very clear: any claim by Japan to Dokdo is unacceptable, and the government will continue to defend its territory with strong words and actions.