Jeong Eui-yong: "Police Chief's Visit to Dokdo Is Only Natural"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong stated on the 19th that he considers Police Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong's recent visit to encourage the Dokdo security guards as "a natural action."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Japan refused to hold a joint press conference after the trilateral meeting of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan's deputy foreign ministers on the 18th, citing Commissioner Kim's visit to Dokdo on the 16th as the reason, which sparked controversy.

At the plenary session of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on the same day, Minister Chung said, "The Police Commissioner General visited Dokdo to encourage the approximately 20 security personnel responsible for guarding Dokdo and to inspect their activities, fulfilling his duties as the Police Commissioner General," adding, "Dokdo is clearly our country's inherent territory historically, geographically, and under international law."

This is not the first time the Police Commissioner General has visited Dokdo. In 2009, then-Police Commissioner General Kang Hee-rak also visited Dokdo, but it did not become a diplomatic issue between South Korea and Japan.

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