Japan again claims ownership of Korean islets

The Japanese government on Friday approved its annual defense white paper which defines Dokdo, a set of rocky Korean islets in the East Sea, as part of Japanese territory, raising tension less than a month after the two countries held a summit, South Korean diplomats here said, according to Yonhap News.



Officials at the South Korean embassy in Tokyo said that the 2009 Japanese defense white paper endorsed by the Japanese cabinet contains the same expressions on Dokdo as the 2008 document.



Tokyo has claimed its territorial rights to Dokdo in its defense white paper since 2005, they noted.



Dokdo has long been a key target of Japan`s territorial claims.



Korea has stationed a police contingent on the islets since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War to symbolize its ownership. A married couple now resides there during the fishing season.



The latest cabinet decision comes less than a month after the summit between President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo, during which they promised to increase cooperation and economic ties.