South Korea Protests Japanese Claims to Dokdo Islets

The Government of the Republic of Korea lodged a strong protest against Japan on August 4, 2026, after Tokyo released its annual defense white paper. The document renewed territorial claims to the islets known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, labeling them as inherent territory and including them in maps of Japan's territorial waters and Air Defense Identification Zone.

In response, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Kazuo Tsuchiya, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, and the Ministry of National Defense called in military attache Takeshi Nagayoshi. This marks the 22nd consecutive year Japan has included these claims in its defense white paper. South Korean officials described the claims as unjust and baseless, asserting that the islets are an integral part of South Korean territory based on history, geography, and international law.

Despite the territorial friction, the Japanese white paper characterized South Korea as an important neighbor and partner for addressing global challenges, particularly regarding the strengthening ties between North Korea, Russia, and China. South Korea maintains effective control of the islets through a small police detachment and stated that Japan's repeated claims do not impact its sovereignty.