South Korea lodged a formal diplomatic protest on Tuesday following the publication of Japan's latest annual defense white paper, which renewed Tokyo's territorial claim to a cluster of disputed islets in the East Sea. Known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, the rocky islets remain a persistent point of diplomatic friction between the two East Asian nations despite recent efforts to expand bilateral security and intelligence cooperation.
Following the release of the white paper, which was formally approved during a Japanese Cabinet meeting earlier in the day, officials in Seoul moved quickly to deliver a stern condemnation. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Kazuo Tsuchiya, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to hand over an official diplomatic protest and demand the immediate retraction of the claim.
During a regular press briefing, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon reaffirmed Seoul's stance on the islets, stating that the government strongly protests Japan's repeated and unjust territorial claims. Park emphasized that Dokdo remains indisputably South Korean territory from historical, geographical, and legal perspectives, adding that Tokyo's assertions would have no bearing on South Korea's administrative sovereignty over the islets. He further noted that Seoul stands ready to respond resolutely to any future provocations concerning the territory.
In a parallel diplomatic move, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense summoned Takeshi Nagayoshi, a military attaché at the Japanese Embassy, to register a separate protest. Kim Hak-jo, director general for international policy at the Defense Ministry, delivered the defense establishment's objections and reiterated demands for Tokyo to cease making claims on the islets.
Despite repeating Japan's longstanding territorial claims, the 2026 defense white paper simultaneously described South Korea as an important partner and neighbor in addressing shared regional and global security challenges. Tokyo highlighted the necessity of maintaining operational coordination with Seoul to counter North Korea's advancing ballistic missile capabilities and its deepening military ties with Russia and China. However, the inclusion of the territorial claim underscores the delicate balance both governments must navigate as historical grievances continue to shadow security partnership efforts.
South Korea maintains effective control over Dokdo, stationing a small police detachment and civil service personnel on the islets alongside maritime patrol assets. While Tokyo routinely reiterates its claims in official policy documents, diplomatic reports, and school textbooks, Seoul maintains that no territorial dispute exists regarding the islets.
