The Japanese government protested over a Korean survey ship's marine research activities around Dokdo.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said on the 7th that it had confirmed that the Korean survey ship Tamhae 3 was lowering a wire-like object into the sea in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) west of "Takeshima" (the name Japan claims for Dokdo), adding that there had been no prior consent or other application from the Korean side regarding the vessel's survey.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan maintains that the Korean survey ship's activities were conducted without Japan's approval or consultations. Kanai Masaaki, director-general for Asian and Oceanian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, was said to have delivered a strong protest to Lee Sang-ryeol, minister-counselor for political affairs at the Embassy of Korea in Japan. Chujo Kazuo, minister-counselor and deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Japan in Korea, also conveyed the same view to Lee Min-kyung, director-general for Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Claiming Dokdo as its territory, the Japanese government continues to lodge protests over the Korean survey ship's marine research activities.
The Korean government continues to convey that Dokdo is an inherent territory of the Republic of Korea.
In response to past protests by the Japanese government, the Korean government has publicly said, "Dokdo is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically, and under international law," and, "We cannot accept any claim by Japan over territorial sovereignty."