"Takeshima is Japanese territory''... South Korean government "resolutely responds'' to reckless remarks by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi

In response to Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi's repeated territorial claims to Takeshima (Korean name: Dokdo) in his diplomatic speech at the regular session of the Diet, the South Korean government has taken a firm stand to respond by saying, "We demand that they be withdrawn immediately."

On the 23rd, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in the name of a press secretary regarding the diplomatic speeches of the Japanese Foreign Minister, stating, We strongly protest against repeated unreasonable territorial claims to Dokdo, which is Japan's inherent territory under international law, and demand that it be withdrawn immediately."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea said, "The Japanese government is clearly aware that repeating unjust claims to Dokdo will not serve any purpose in building future-oriented Japan-South Korea relations."

"We would like to make it clear once again that the Japanese government's unjustified claims will not affect our sovereignty over Dokdo, which is an inherent territory of the Republic of Korea," and added, "We will resolutely respond to any provocations against Dokdo. We will make it clear what we are going to do."

Continuing, "In relation to 'Sado Gold Mine', we will promptly implement the follow-up measures that Japan itself promised when 'Japan's modern industrial facilities' was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 and the repeated decisions of the World Heritage Committee. I urge you to do so again."

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said in a diplomatic speech at the ordinary session of the Diet that day that "Takeshima is an inherent territory of Japan, even in light of historical facts."

In the 2014 diplomatic speech when the current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was foreign minister, the Japanese foreign minister said, "Takeshima, Shimane Prefecture, which is an inherent territory of Japan."