Dokdo Territorial Dispute Intensifies as South Korea Summons Japanese Attache Over White Paper South Korea formally protested on Tuesday over Japan’s renewed claim to the Dokdo islands in its annual defense white paper.
The Dokdo territorial dispute escalated as South Korea’s defense ministry summoned Japan’s defense attache in Seoul for a stern response. The ministry’s international affairs chief, Lee Kwang-seok, led the protest in Seoul’s Yongsan District.
Lee demanded that Japan immediately remove the territorial claim from its white paper. He also warned that South Korea would “firmly respond to any attempt to undermine sovereignty over the Dokdo islands.”
South Korea controls the rocky islets, known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese, with a small coast guard presence. These islands lie in the East Sea, roughly equidistant from both countries, and have long been a point of tension.
Despite Seoul’s control, Tokyo continues to claim the territory in its annual publications, fueling the Dokdo territorial dispute. Japan has included this claim in its white paper for decades, triggering repeated protests from South Korea.
South Korean officials see the inclusion as a political provocation that disregards historical and geographical realities. In Tuesday’s protest, South Korean officials emphasized their commitment to protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Japan has not yet issued a formal response to South Korea’s latest objection. Analysts say the dispute often resurfaces during times of political pressure or rising nationalist sentiment in both nations.
Meanwhile, South Korean media and public opinion have reacted strongly to Japan’s renewed claim. The Dokdo territorial dispute remains one of the most sensitive and enduring issues in South Korea-Japan relations.
As regional security challenges grow, some experts warn that such territorial claims risk undermining diplomatic cooperation. Still, South Korea has consistently reiterated its administrative and historical control over the Dokdo islands. Both governments may need to balance domestic pressures with long-term regional stability in future discussions.
