Seoul Issues Stern Protest as Japan’s Defense White Paper Reasserts Claim to Dokdo Islands

The diplomatic relationship between Seoul and Tokyo has once again been strained following the publication of Japan's annual Defense White Paper, which continues to assert Japanese sovereignty over the islets known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan. The South Korean government reacted with immediate and strong indignation, demanding that the Japanese administration retract its claims and cease its provocative rhetoric regarding the disputed territory.

During a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Park Doo-soon, a spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered a sharp rebuke of Tokyo's stance. Park emphasized that from the perspectives of historical record, geographic proximity, and established international law, the Dokdo islands are undeniably part of South Korea's inherent territory. He noted that the repetition of these claims in an official defense document is unacceptable and urged the Japanese government to immediately withdraw the assertions to avoid further damaging bilateral ties.

To underscore the gravity of the situation, the South Korean Foreign Ministry took the formal step of summoning Kazuo Nakajo, the Japanese Minister to the embassy in Seoul. During this diplomatic meeting, South Korean officials conveyed their strong protest and warned that such unilateral claims by Tokyo are baseless. Seoul reiterated its position that no matter how frequently Japan asserts its claims, it will not alter the factual reality of South Korea's sovereignty over the islands. The government further stated that it remains prepared to respond firmly and decisively to any provocations directed toward the islets.

This latest incident marks the 22nd consecutive year since 2005 that Japan has included claims to the islands in its Defense White Paper. The document released by the Japanese cabinet asserts that the territorial disputes surrounding both the "Takeshima" islets and the "Northern Territories" (known in Russia as the Southern Kurils) remain unresolved. Beyond the text, the white paper's accompanying maps explicitly label the area around the islets as "territory under dispute" and unilaterally incorporate the surrounding waters into Japan's territorial sea boundaries.

The Dokdo islets, consisting of two primary islands and several smaller rock formations, are situated in the waters east of the Korean Peninsula. Covering an area of approximately 0.18 square kilometers, these small outcrops have become a disproportionate symbol of national identity and historical grievance for both nations. While Japan maintains a persistent legal claim, South Korea currently exercises actual administrative control over the islands, maintaining a permanent presence of security personnel.

Observers note the paradoxical nature of this friction. While both South Korea and Japan frequently emphasize the need for strategic cooperation to address regional security threats—including the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and the evolving military posture of China—territorial disputes continue to act as a significant wedge. The Defense White Paper also highlighted China's military activities as a strategic challenge, yet the internal friction over Dokdo suggests that the two democratic allies are still struggling to reconcile historical narratives with contemporary security needs. This cycle of claim and protest underscores the deep-seated sensitivities that continue to haunt East Asian diplomacy.