1. The government of the Republic of Korea strongly protests the Japanese government’s repeated inclusion of unjust sovereignty claims over Dokdo, which is clearly an integral part of the ROK’s territory historically, geographically and under international law, in its Diplomatic Bluebook released on April 23. The ROK government urges the Japanese government to immediately withdraw such claims.

2. The Japanese government should be clearly aware that repeatedly making unjust claims over Dokdo is in no way conducive to the efforts to establish a future-oriented relationship between the ROK and Japan.

3.The ROK government makes it clear once again that the Japanese government’s unjust claims over Dokdo cannot have any impact on the ROK’s sovereignty over Dokdo, an integral part of the ROK’s territory. The ROK government will respond sternly to any provocations by Japan over Dokdo.

* unofficial translation