Seoul condemns Tokyo's sovereignty claim to Dokdo
SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday denounced Japan's repeated sovereignty claim to the easternmost islets of Dokdo and urged the neighbor to face up to history in order to improve bilateral relations.
The foreign ministry lodged a strong protest after Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi reiterated Tokyo's stance on the East Sea outcroppings in his parliamentary speech earlier in the day.
"The Japanese government should stop its unreasonable claim to Dokdo, which is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically and by international law," ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam said in a statement.
"It will have to clearly recognize that right history perceptions serve as the foundation for the development of forward-looking bilateral relations," he noted.
The islets, effectively controlled by South Korea with a small police unit stationed, have long been a source of diplomatic stand-offs between the two sides as a legacy of Japan's imperialistic past.

A Korea Coast Guard ship patrols near the country's easternmost Dokdo Islets on Sept. 2, 2021, eight days ahead of the 68th anniversary of Korea Coast Guard Day. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
BTS fails to win Grammy for 3rd consecutive year
-
(LEAD) 1st S. Korean state compensation ordered for victim of Vietnam War mass killings
-
Jay Park's Won Soju to be sold in U.S.
-
(2nd LD) Search under way for 9 missing after fishing boat capsizes
-
(LEAD) Ahn calls off campaigning activities amid row with Yoon's office
-
(LEAD) N. Korean leader visits barracks with his daughter to mark army founding anniv.
-
S. Korea opens metaverse platform for Korean-language learning
-
N. Korea holds military parade in Pyongyang to mark armed forces' founding anniv.: source
-
S. Korea to hold nationwide civil air defense drills in May after 6-year hiatus
-
KBO's 1st overall pick suspended by club over social media gaffe