Japan has formally expressed its disapproval of South Korea’s recent military activity near a group of contested islets in the Sea of Japan, Kyodo News reports. The small islands, known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, are administered by Seoul but also claimed by Tokyo.

On July 17, Japan’s Foreign Ministry issued a complaint to the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo, delivered by Masaaki Kanai, who leads the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau. Kanai criticised the drills as highly inappropriate and deeply disappointing.

According to a government statement, Japan maintains that these islets are an inherent part of its national territory, citing both historical records and international legal frameworks to support its position.

Earlier, South Korea’s navy confirmed that it had conducted the exercises. These manoeuvres mark the first held since President Lee Jae Myung assumed office last month, taking over from former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

South Korean media outlet Yonhap reported that the operation did not involve physical landings on the islets. The biannual drills, consistent in scale with previous years, were also conducted away from public view, continuing a policy followed during the Yoon administration.

While both governments claim sovereignty over the territory, the resumption of drills so soon after a change in leadership may be viewed by Tokyo as a deliberate signal. The dispute continues to serve as a flashpoint in Japan–South Korea relations, highlighting ongoing tensions despite broader regional cooperation.