South Korea’s main opposition party has stirred up controversy by landing on the disputed Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan, which are controlled by South Korea but claimed by Japan.
The Democratic Party’s regional branch announced that 17 people, including three lawmakers, arrived on the islands on Tuesday, chanting “Dokdo is our territory” and asserting South Korea’s sovereignty over the area.
In response, Japan’s foreign ministry lodged a protest with South Korea’s embassy in Tokyo, calling the visit “totally unacceptable and extremely regrettable.” The ministry emphasized that the islands are historically and legally part of Japan’s territory.
Despite recent improvements in Japan-South Korea relations, the visit has reignited tensions between the two countries. The South Korean government continues to assert its claims over the islands, even as concerns grow that President Yoon Suk-yeol’s administration may face criticism over its handling of diplomacy with Japan.
Observers speculate that the Democratic Party’s actions could lead to increased scrutiny of the government’s policies towards Japan in parliament. The visit to the Takeshima Islands has further complicated the already delicate relationship between the two nations.