Press Releases

On the morning of August 15, members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea landed on Takeshima despite the Government of Japan’s prior protests and urgings to halt the visit.

Following this visit, on the morning of the same day, Mr. Kenji Kanasugi, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, summoned Mr Lee Hisop, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the ROK. Mr Kanasugi once again strongly protested and conveyed to Mr Lee that this incident was unacceptable in light of the Government of Japan’s position on sovereignty over Takeshima, that it was extremely regrettable that this visit was carried out despite the Government of Japan’s prior protests and urgings to halt the visit, and strongly urged the Governement of the ROK to ensure similar acts do not recur. Mr. Hideo Suzuki, Charge d'Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan in the ROK, also conveyed the same message to Mr. Chung Byung-won, Director-General of the Northeast Asian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK.