S. Korea protests against Japan's renewed claim over Dokdo islets

South Korea lodged a strong protest on Friday against Japan's renewed territorial claim over Dokdo islets, known as Takeshima in Japan, lying halfway between Seoul and Tokyo.

"Our government strongly protests against the Japanese government's endorsement of the Diplomatic Blue Paper that contains its unjust sovereignty claim over Dokdo that is our inseparable territory," Cho Tai-young, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.

His remarks came after Tokyo laid a formal claim once again over the Seoul-controlled easternmost islets of Dokdo through the approval of the diplomatic report that stated "Takeshima is clearly Japanese territory in light of historical facts and under an international law."

Seoul and Tokyo have remained at odds over a number of historical issues, including territorial disputes over the islets. The two Asian powerhouses have also clashed over the issue of Korean women forced by the Japanese army into sexual slavery during the World War II.

Spokesman Cho noted that "Dokdo is clearly a Korean territory historically, geographically as well as under an international law, " urging Tokyo to immediately drop its claim to the rocky islands.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry summoned Takashi Kurai, Japan's deputy chief of mission in Seoul, to protest against the blue paper and deliver a diplomatic letter of protest.