South Korea conducts defense drills near disputed islands
- 11 years ago
South Korean forces conduct a military drill on disputed islands at the heart of a row with Japan.
This outcrop may be small but it's been the cause of a long-running bitter dispute between the two nations, that has seriously damaged ties.
Both countries lay claims to the islands known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japan.
The drill showcased South Korea's hardware with destroyers and combat jets on what is being called "Dokdo Day".
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN DEFENSE MINISTRY'S DEPUTY SPOKESMAN WEE YONG-SUB SAYING:
"We conducted the drill in a bid to repell any extreme rightists illegally land on the islets"
Japan has made an official protest against the drill.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY, YOSHIHIDE SUGA, SAYING:
"Either way we have maintained that Takeshima islands are both historically, actually and under international law Japanese territory and that is why we lodged our protests."
The dispu
This outcrop may be small but it's been the cause of a long-running bitter dispute between the two nations, that has seriously damaged ties.
Both countries lay claims to the islands known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japan.
The drill showcased South Korea's hardware with destroyers and combat jets on what is being called "Dokdo Day".
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN DEFENSE MINISTRY'S DEPUTY SPOKESMAN WEE YONG-SUB SAYING:
"We conducted the drill in a bid to repell any extreme rightists illegally land on the islets"
Japan has made an official protest against the drill.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY, YOSHIHIDE SUGA, SAYING:
"Either way we have maintained that Takeshima islands are both historically, actually and under international law Japanese territory and that is why we lodged our protests."
The dispu