Seoul: South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned a Japanese diplomat to protest an annual regional event in Japan concerning Tokyo's sovereignty claims over the Dokdo islets in the East Sea. The ministry took this step as part of its ongoing efforts to assert South Korea's territorial rights over the disputed islets.

According to Qatar News Agency, the ministry called in Hirotaka Matsu, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to lodge a strong protest against the event held in Shimane Prefecture, western Japan. The event has been a recurring point of tension between the two nations, as both lay claim to the islets.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il issued a statement reiterating South Korea's position. The statement urged the immediate cancellation of the event, emphasizing that "Dokdo is clearly an integral part of our territory in terms of history, geography, and international law." South Korea's firm stance underscores the ongoing diplomatic friction surrounding the islets, which have long been a source of contention between Seoul and Tokyo.