Hirotaka Matsuo, center, deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, arrives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in central Seoul, Sunday, after being summoned over Shimane prefecture’s controversial “Takeshima Day” event concerning Korea's territorial islets Dokdo. Yonhap
Seoul lodged a strong protest against Tokyo on Sunday after a senior Japanese official attended Shimane prefecture’s controversial “Takeshima Day” event, widely viewed as asserting Tokyo’s territorial claims over Dokdo, Korea’s easternmost islets.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for the immediate abolition of the event, describing it as a reflection of Japan’s repeated and unjustified sovereignty claims over the islets.
“Dokdo is clearly an integral part of our territory historically, geographically and under international law,” the foreign ministry said. “The Japanese government must immediately cease its unreasonable claims over Dokdo and face history with humility.”
The ministry also summoned Hirotaka Matsuo, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to lodge a formal protest.
Earlier Sunday, Shimane prefecture held its annual ceremony marking Takeshima Day. The Japanese government has sent a senior official to the event each year since 2013. This year, Naoki Furukawa, parliamentary vice minister at the Cabinet Office, attended the ceremony.
Shimane prefecture has called annually for a Cabinet minister to attend the event, but the Japanese government has instead dispatched a vice minister-level official for 14 consecutive years.
On Feb. 22, 1905, amid the Russo-Japanese War and five years before Japan’s annexation of Korea — a period of colonial rule that lasted 36 years — Shimane prefecture issued a public notice unilaterally incorporating Dokdo into its administrative jurisdiction. To mark the 100th anniversary of the move, the prefecture enacted an ordinance in 2005 designating Takeshima Day, and since 2006 has held the controversial event annually on Feb. 22.
Source: Korea Times News
