S. Korea strongly protests Japan's repeated false territorial claims over Dokdo

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This past weekend Japan ruffled diplomatic feathers by laying claim to South Korea's Dokdo Island yet again.

Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has details.

For 20 years, the local government in Japan's Shimane prefecture has been holding annual events, to claim that Dokdo is Japanese territory.

A senior Japanese official in charge of territorial issues, Eriko Imai attended this year's ceremony on Saturday.

The Japanese government has been sending vice-ministerial-level officials to the annual event, since 2013 when Shinzo Abe served as the country's prime minister.

Dokdo, located off South Korea's east coast has long been at the center of diplomatic tension between the two neighboring countries.

Japan has claimed sovereignty for decades in its policy papers, public statements, and school textbooks.

In response, Seoul's foreign ministry called in Taisuke Mibae, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, on Saturday to protest.

It also urged the Japanese government to immediately abolish the event, stressing that Dokdo is South Korean territory historically, geographically, and under international law.

Experts say that it's important for Japan to act responsibly, to forge a better bilateral relationship.

"If Japan truly desires to achieve a meaningful relationship with South Korea, I believe the first step is to get rid of this absurd event. I would also like to say it's time for the Japanese government and local authorities to face up to its history and act in a way that will not be shameful to future generations."

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Tokyo, but territorial claims over Dokdo continue to remain a major obstacle to improving bilateral ties.

Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.