Continued Japanese Sovereignty Claims on Dokdo This Year... Government Says "Not Helpful to Bilateral Relations"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] In response to the Japanese Foreign Minister reiterating Japan's claim to sovereignty over Dokdo during the regular National Diet foreign affairs speech, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong protest through a statement and immediately urged withdrawal.

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in the name of its spokesperson, stating, "They repeated an unjust claim of sovereignty over Dokdo, which is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically, and under international law."

[Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

It continued, "The Japanese government must clearly recognize that repeating unjust claims over Dokdo does not help in building a future-oriented Korea-Japan relationship," adding, "We reaffirm that Japan's unjust claims have no effect on our sovereignty over Dokdo, which is the inherent territory of the Republic of Korea, and we declare that we will firmly respond to any provocations regarding Dokdo."

Regarding the mention of Sado Mine's UNESCO World Heritage registration, the Ministry stated, "We once again urge prompt implementation of the follow-up measures promised by Japan itself during the 2015 registration of Japan's Modern Industrial Heritage as a World Heritage site and the repeated decisions of the World Heritage Committee."

Foreign Minister Hayashi, in his foreign affairs speech at the regular National Diet session that began that day, said about Dokdo, "In light of historical facts, it is Japan's inherent territory," and "Based on this fundamental position, we will respond resolutely." He also mentioned, "We will certainly do our part to ensure the registration of Sado Mine as a World Heritage site."

This marks the 10th consecutive year that the Japanese Foreign Minister has claimed sovereignty over Dokdo in the regular National Diet foreign affairs speech. On the 19th, the Japanese government submitted a formal nomination dossier to the UNESCO World Heritage Secretariat to register Sado Mine in Niigata Prefecture, a site of forced labor of Koreans, as a World Heritage site.

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