South Korea strongly protests Japanese defense white paper’s territorial claim to Dokdo

The South Korean government vehemently protested Japan's assertion that Dokdo is part of Japanese territory, as reiterated in its annual defense white paper released on August 4, 2026. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Park Doo-soon, declared that the justice of South Korea's historical, geographical, and international law claim to Dokdo could not be overshadowed by Japan's repeated sovereignty claims.

Park emphasized that these unjust claims have no bearing on South Korea's sovereignty over the island. In response to Japan's claim, the South Korean government summoned the deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. The defense white paper also labeled Dokdo as part of the "territorial dispute surrounding Takeshima Island," and as South Korean territorial waters.

Japan's defense white paper, marking 22 consecutive years of baseless claims to Dokdo since 2005, also characterized South Korea as a "partner and important neighbor." Despite this, Japan expressed concern over Japan's increasing maritime military influence and plans to collaborate with allies and friendly nations against growing military cooperation among North Korea, China, and Russia.