Japan Lodges Protest With S.korea Over Survey Ships Near Takeshima
A senior Japanese government official says Japan has lodged a protest with South Korea over recent activities of the country's ships near the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan.
South Korea controls the islands. Japan claims them. The Japanese government says South Korea is illegally occupying the islands.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Seiji told reporters about Japan's protest on Monday.
Kihara said it has been confirmed that three South Korean maritime survey vessels entered the Japanese territorial waters and exclusive economic zone near the islands on July 24 and later.
Kihara said the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory in terms of history and international law.
He said that Tokyo asked Seoul for an explanation of the ships' activities and lodged a protest via diplomatic channels. He said it is unacceptable if the ships are carrying out maritime surveys in Japan's territorial waters or EEZ.
Kihara also said the government will continue to properly deal with the matter on the basis of international law and related domestic laws.