Japan's defense paper again claims islets disputed with South Korea

Japan's annual Defense White Paper has once again asserted Tokyo's claim over the Dokdo islets, which South Korea administers and calls Dokdo, marking the 22nd consecutive year the document has included this territorial dispute. The 2026 edition, released following a cabinet meeting, explicitly states that "territorial issues concerning the Northern Territories (four islands of the Kuril chain) and Takeshima (Japan's name for Dokdo) remain unresolved."

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Territorial issues concerning the Northern Territories (four islands of the Kuril chain) and Takeshima (Japan's name for Dokdo) remain unresolved.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense illustrated its claim by depicting the islets within a blue line representing Japan's territorial waters on an accompanying map, labeling them as "Takeshima." This persistent assertion has drawn a strong response from Seoul.

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a Japanese Embassy official to lodge a formal protest. A ministry spokesperson issued a statement strongly condemning Japan's "unjust territorial claim" over Dokdo, which Seoul considers historically, geographically, and legally its own territory. The statement urged Japan to immediately withdraw its claim and vowed a firm response to any future provocations.

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The government strongly protests Japan's repeated unjust territorial claim over Dokdo, our inherent territory that is historically, geographically, and internationally legally clear, and urges its immediate withdrawal.

Beyond the Dokdo dispute, the 2026 Defense White Paper addresses the broader security environment surrounding Japan. It identifies military threats from North Korea, China, and Russia, underscoring the need for Japan to enhance its comprehensive national capabilities, encompassing diplomacy, defense, economy, technology, and intelligence. The report also touches upon the ongoing debate within Japan regarding the revision of its "three non-nuclear principles," reaffirming that Japan currently adheres to its basic policy of not possessing, producing, or allowing the introduction of nuclear weapons.

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We make it clear that we will respond firmly to any Japanese provocation regarding Dokdo.