South Korea condemns Japan's Dokdo claim as baseless and provocative
The Democratic Party of Korea condemned remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, who asserted in the Japanese parliament that Dokdo should be recognized as Japan’s territory and said she would inform the international community. The party described the comments as irresponsible and provocative, arguing they undermine trust in Korea–Japan relations.
Kim Nam-guk, a Democratic Party spokesman, said in a written briefing that presenting Dokdo as Japan’s territory in the Japanese Diet denies historical facts and international law and constitutes a blatant territorial provocation. He reaffirmed that Dokdo is clearly Korea’s sovereign territory on historical, geographical, and international-law grounds and that no Japanese claim can alter that, adding that Dokdo is not a subject for negotiation or dispute.
Kim argued that repeated Japanese claims to Dokdo use the issue for domestic political purposes and reflect a revisionist and expansionist mindset among far-right political forces. He criticized the prime minister’s remarks as exposing these tendencies.
The spokesman warned that such actions undermine trust in Korea–Japan relations and urged the Japanese government to immediately halt baseless territorial claims and historical distortions. He said that if Japan truly seeks a future-oriented relationship, it should demonstrate responsible behavior by respecting history and international law.
Kim also stated that the South Korean government must respond firmly to such claims and provocations, emphasizing that Dokdo’s sovereignty cannot be shaken. He said the Democratic Party will take all necessary measures to defend Korea’s territory.
For readers unfamiliar with the backdrop, Dokdo is a small islet group known as Takeshima in Japan. It is administered by South Korea’s Ulleung County, North Gyeongsang Province, but Japan continues to contest sovereignty. The dispute has long influenced bilateral diplomacy and regional security dynamics.
The issue matters to the United States because Korea–Japan ties underpin key regional security arrangements and allied cooperation. Heightened tensions over Dokdo could complicate trilateral coordination on deterrence against North Korea and China, as well as affect supply chains for advanced electronics and technology links that involve Korean and Japanese partners. A constructive, rules-based approach remains central to U.S. interests in regional stability.