Government Urges Immediate Withdrawal of Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook Claiming Dokdo Sovereignty (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] On the 27th, the government strongly protested and immediately demanded the withdrawal of the Japanese government's diplomatic white paper that included claims of territorial sovereignty over Dokdo.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a spokesperson's statement on the same day, "We strongly protest the repeated futile territorial claims over Dokdo, which is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically, and under international law," and added, "The government will firmly respond to any provocation by the Japanese government regarding Dokdo."

It continued, "The issue of the Japanese government's recognition of the comfort women victims is a case of unprecedented human rights violations against women during armed conflict and a universal human rights issue," and emphasized, "The government strongly demands that the Japanese government take actions consistent with the spirit of responsibility, apology, and reflection it expressed in the 1993 Kono Statement and the 2015 Korea-Japan Comfort Women Agreement."

Soma Hirohisa, Minister in Charge at the Embassy of Japan in Korea, who was summoned in relation to the Japanese government's claim that Dokdo is its territory in the "2021 Diplomatic Bluebook" outlining its diplomatic strategy, is entering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Doryeom-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Soma Hirohisa, the General Director of the Japanese Embassy in Korea, on the morning of the same day to strongly protest.

The Ministry requested General Director Soma, "Japan's annual territorial claims over Dokdo through the diplomatic white paper are adversely affecting Korea-Japan relations," and urged, "Please immediately withdraw such official diplomatic documents."

This measure was taken in response to the Japanese government's announcement of an official diplomatic document claiming Dokdo as Japanese territory on the same day.

Soma Hirohisa, Minister in Charge at the Embassy of Japan in Korea, who was summoned in relation to the Japanese government's claim that Dokdo is its territory in the "2021 Diplomatic Bluebook" outlining its diplomatic strategy, is entering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Doryeom-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the morning of the same day, Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu reported the ‘2021 Edition Diplomatic White Paper,’ which records the analysis of international affairs over the past year and Japan's overall diplomatic activities, at the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide. This is the first diplomatic white paper released since the Suga Cabinet took office in September last year.

In this diplomatic white paper, Japan reiterated its territorial claims over Dokdo. Regarding the comfort women and forced labor victim compensation issues, Japan repeated its stance that the Korean government should resolve them.

Japan's infringement on Korea's territorial sovereignty and regressive historical recognition in the official government document, the diplomatic white paper, has acted as a negative factor in improving Korea-Japan relations every year.

In fact, even under the Abe Shinzo administration, the predecessor of Prime Minister Suga, the Japanese government reflected territorial claims over Dokdo in the diplomatic white paper, and in the 2018 edition, it escalated provocations by adding expressions such as "illegal occupation by Korea" regarding Dokdo's sovereignty.

Accordingly, in diplomatic circles, there is a forecast that the deterioration of Korea-Japan relations is inevitable as the recent decision on the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant overlaps with the adoption of the diplomatic white paper claiming territorial sovereignty over Dokdo.

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