Japan Repeats Territorial Claims Over Dokdo... Foreign Ministry: "Must Withdraw Immediately" (Comprehensive)

Chief Consul of the Embassy of Japan in Korea Summoned

The Japanese government has once again asserted its unfounded claim that Dokdo is "Japan's inherent territory" this year. Some have pointed out that this undermines the efforts by the leaders of South Korea and Japan to foster a friendly bilateral relationship through "shuttle diplomacy." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately lodged a protest and summoned the Consul General of the Japanese Embassy in Korea.

View of Dokdo. Photo by Yonhap News.

On August 4, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a spokesperson's statement, saying, "We strongly protest the Japanese government's repeated unjust claims of sovereignty over Dokdo—our undisputed territory by historical, geographical, and international legal standards—via its released Defense White Paper," and urged, "We demand the immediate withdrawal of these claims."

The ministry further asserted, "The government reiterates that Japan's unfounded claims have no impact whatsoever on our sovereignty over Dokdo," emphasizing, "We will respond firmly to any further provocations by Japan regarding Dokdo."

In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Kazuho Chujo, Consul General of the Japanese Embassy in Korea, to its office. Chujo walked past the Korean press with a stern expression, declining to answer questions.

In relation to Japan's claim of territorial sovereignty over Dokdo in its Defense White Paper, Kazuho Chujo, Consul General of the Japanese Embassy in Korea, who was summoned, is entering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Doryeom-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on August 4, 2026. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Earlier that day, the Japanese government held a Cabinet meeting and adopted the "2026 Defense White Paper" containing these claims. The white paper states, "The territorial issues of the Northern Territories (Japan's term for the four Kuril Islands) and Takeshima (Japan's designation for Dokdo), which are our country's inherent territories, remain unresolved."

This claim by the Japanese government regarding Dokdo has been reiterated for 22 consecutive years since it was first included in the Defense White Paper in 2005. The South Korean government's response has also remained virtually unchanged every year, as if following a rehearsed script. While the leaders of South Korea and Japan have created an atmosphere of unprecedented closeness through "shuttle diplomacy" since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, in reality, the two countries have made no tangible progress in resolving sensitive historical issues.

Choi Eunmi, Senior Research Fellow (Ph.D.) at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, commented, "Given the current international circumstances, it is desirable that South Korea and Japan achieve cooperation in areas such as energy and supply chains." However, she pointed out, "Unresolved historical issues still remain between the two countries." She added, "Above all, the Korean government needs to take the initiative in raising and addressing these matters, but so far, there have been no clear moves on this front," expressing concern that "there is a fear these historical issues between South Korea and Japan may be forgotten."

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