South Korea, Japan spar over survey near disputed islets

By Anadolu staff

South Korea on Thursday rejected Japanese protest over a maritime survey near disputed islets in the East Sea also known as the Sea of Japan, local media reported.

Tokyo lodged a protest through diplomatic channels over the South Korean Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency survey around the rocky islets, however, Seoul's Foreign Ministry rejected the protest and called their move a legitimate activity, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"We cannot accept any of Japan's claims regarding our territorial sovereignty," said the ministry.

South Korea effectively controls the islets of Dokdo, which Tokyo refers to as Takeshima and claims as Japanese territory.

This was the third time Japan lodged a complaint through diplomatic channels in June following similar protests on June 6 and June 11, according to the agency.

The disputed islets are a source of tension between the two neighboring countries as Japan repeatedly claimed its sovereignty and lodged complaints whenever South Korea conducted a maritime survey around the islets. However, South Korea insists that Dokdo is indisputably South Korean territory historically, geographically and under international law.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid