Japan protests S. Korea’s survey plans near Takeshima: Suga

May 13, 2019

Tokyo--Japan has strongly protested against South Korean ocean survey plans covering areas near disputed islands, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Monday.

The national Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency started to post plans on such surveys using drones around the Sea of Japan islands called Takeshima in Japan on its website in 2016 at the latest, the top

Japanese government spokesman told a press conference.

"The surveys are never unacceptable in light of Japan's territorial claim over the islands," he said.

"Every time we're aware of information related to such surveys, we've lodged strong protests to the South Korean side," Suga added.

The islands, called Dokdo in South Korea, are under Seoul's effective control. Jiji Press