The government on July 14 expressed strong protest over Japan's false territorial claim to Korea's Dokdo Island in a defense white paper, urging Tokyo to immediately retract it. (Korea.net DB)

By Lee Kyoung Mi and Yoon Sojung

The government on July 14 expressed strong protest over Japan's repeated false claim to Korea's Dokdo Island in a defense white paper, urging an immediate retraction.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Hirohisa Soma, minister of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, and the Ministry of National Defense called in Takashi Matsumoto, a military attaché at the embassy, to deliver the Korean government's stance.

A commentary issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Kim In-chul said, "The Japanese government should be aware that reiterating unjust and preposterous claims over Dokdo is in no way conducive to the ROK (Republic of Korea)-Japan relationship."

"The ROK government makes clear once again that the Japanese government's unjust claims do not have any impact on the ROK's sovereignty over Dokdo, an integral part of the ROK's territory."

Earlier that day, the Japanese government explained in its white paper the security guarantee environment surrounding the country, saying territorial issues involving Takeshima (what the Japanese government calls Dokdo) remain unresolved.

Japan since 2005 has claimed Dokdo as its territory every year in defense white papers.

The white paper also mentioned an incident involving Russian military aircraft in July last year, when a Russian warplane violated the airspace over Dokdo and Korean fighters fired warning shots.

The paper said, "An incident of violating airspace over Takeshima occurred," adding, "Japan protested through diplomatic channels against the Russian government for the airspace violation and the Korean government for firing warning shots at the Russian aircraft."

The white paper also featured maps supporting the Japanese government's false territorial claims to Dokdo by marking the island as Takeshima.

km137426@korea.kr