Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, "Japan, Apologize for 'Dokdo Sovereignty Provocation' and Stop Immediately"

Statement Condemning the Offensive Remarks by Japanese Foreign Minister on the 18th

The Taegeukgi flag is fluttering on Dongdo of Dokdo, Ulleung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Gyeongbuk Province issued a statement on the 19th under the name of Governor Lee Cheol-woo, strongly protesting against the Japanese Foreign Minister's claim that 'Dokdo is Japan's inherent territory,' and urged the Japanese government to apologize and immediately cease its repeated annual claims of sovereignty over Dokdo without remorse.

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu (茂木敏充) asserted in a parliamentary diplomatic speech on the 18th that "(Dokdo) is Japan's inherent territory both historically and under international law." This marks the eighth consecutive year since 2014 that the Japanese Foreign Minister has made such an unfounded claim in a diplomatic speech.

In response, Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo declared in the statement, "We strongly warn the Japanese Foreign Minister to stop the absurd remarks about Dokdo that have continued for eight years," and affirmed, "As the governor responsible for Dokdo, I will stand firmly with the 3 million residents of the province against any provocation from Japan."

He further urged, "Japan, which persistently and cunningly attempts to distort history and refuses to abandon its ambition to seize Dokdo, must sincerely apologize and join in maintaining the international order and world peace."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.