Seoul protests Japan's Dokdo claim in latest policy paper, urges immediate withdrawal

▲ A visitor looks at a map of Dokdo at an exhibition hall operated by the Northeast Asian History Foundation in Seoul, in this undated file photo. (Yonhap)

S Korea-Japan-Dokdo

Seoul protests Japan's Dokdo claim in latest policy paper, urges immediate withdrawal

SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- The foreign ministry on Tuesday expressed "strong protest" against Japan's territorial claim to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo in its latest foreign policy paper, calling for an immediate withdrawal.

Releasing this year's Diplomatic Bluebook, the Japanese government once again renewed its claim to the South Korea-controlled islets, as it did the previous year.

"We strongly protest against the repetition of the unjust territorial claim to Dokdo, which is clearly our territory based on history, geography and international law," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We urged (Japan) to immediately withdraw this," it said.

The government also vowed to respond sternly to "any kinds of provocations by Japan" regarding Dokdo.

The ministry plans to call in Taisuke Mibae, minister at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, later in the day to lodge a formal protest with Japan.

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