Seoul vows stern response to Japan's claim to Dokdo

SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea vowed a stern response Wednesday to Japan's claim to Seoul's easternmost islets of Dokdo, as Japan will reportedly publish a diplomatic white paper containing the claim.

Japan has long declared sovereignty over the Dokdo islets, which lie closer to South Korea than Japan in waters between the two countries, in one of the thorniest diplomatic issues between the two countries.

Japan's foreign ministry once again made the claim in its draft for the 2015 white paper, according to Japan's Kyodo News Service. It is set to be released in early April.

"It is needless to say that Dokdo is South Korean territory by history, geography and international law," said an official at Seoul's foreign ministry. "We will deal resolutely with any territorial provocation."

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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