Japan Protests S. Korea over Ships in Waters near Takeshima

August 3, 2018

Tokyo- Japan has lodged a protest against South Korea over South Korean research vessels detected in Japanese waters near the islets of Takeshima in Shimane Prefecture, western Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Friday.

The vessels intruded into the waters on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Suga.

In the protest, lodged through diplomatic channels, the Japanese government called for an explanation and claimed that no maritime research is allowed in the area without consent, he said.

Patrol ships of the Japan Coast Guard are currently placed on alert and giving warnings to South Korean vessels.

The Japanese-claimed islets of Takeshima are effectively controlled by South Korea, which calls them Dokdo. Jiji Press