S . Korea voices strong protest over Japan ' s renewed territorial claims to Dokdo SEOUL , Jan . 22 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea on Monday voiced a strong protest over Japan ' s renewed territorial claims to its easternmost islets of Dokdo and demanded their immediate withdrawal . " We express our deep regrets over Japan ' s unjustifiable claims to Dokdo again , " the foreign ministry said in a spokesman ' s commentary . " The Japanese government should stop its wrong claims with regard to our inherent territory , which it undoubtedly is from a historic and geographical perspective , as well as in the eyes of international law , " it added . Earlier , Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said in a parliamentary speech that Dokdo , also known as Takeshima in Japan , is part of Japan ' s territory and that he will make persistent efforts to strengthen the case for Japanese ownership down the road . Dokdo , a set of rocky islets lying close to the Korean Peninsula in the East Sea , has long been a recurring source of tension between the neighbors . South Korea has kept a small police detachment on Dokdo since the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japan in 1945 and has made clear that Tokyo ' s claims are utterly groundless . Japan has repeatedly claimed that Dokdo is its own territory , drawing strong condemnation from South Korea . kokobj @ yna . co . kr ( END )