South Korea Holds Second Dokdo Defense Drill This Year, Japan Files Formal Protest
Updated (2 articles)
Drill Conducted Near Dokdo on Tuesday South Korea carried out a regular East Sea defense exercise near the Dokdo islets on 24 December 2025, marking the second drill under President Lee Jae Myung’s administration [1][2]. A military source said the operation aimed to protect territory, people and property, using training methods and assets comparable to previous drills. The exercise follows the twice‑yearly schedule established in 2003, with the prior drill held in July 2025 [1][2].
Japan Lodges Formal Diplomatic Protest Japan’s foreign ministry filed complaints through diplomatic channels with both the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo and Seoul’s foreign ministry [1][2]. The protest reiterates Tokyo’s long‑standing claim to the islets, which appears in Japanese policy papers, public statements and school textbooks. The diplomatic objection underscores the persistent sovereignty dispute despite the routine nature of the drills [1][2].
South Korea Maintains Effective Control of Dokdo South Korea has administered Dokdo since liberation from Japanese colonial rule, stationing a small police detachment on the islets [1][2]. This continuous presence forms the legal and practical basis for the defense drills conducted near the territory. Japan continues to assert sovereignty, but the on‑ground reality remains South Korean administration [1][2].
Drill Schedule Reflects Long‑Running Defense Posture The Dokdo defense drills originated in 1986 and have been conducted twice a year since 2003 [1][2]. The July 2025 exercise was the first under the current government, establishing a pattern that the December drill continued. The consistency of scale and methodology signals a stable defense policy toward the contested islets [1][2].
Sources
-
1.
Yonhap: South Korea conducts regular Dokdo defense drills amid Japan protests – Details the Tuesday drill, its similarity to past exercises, and Japan’s diplomatic complaint, emphasizing the ongoing sovereignty tension .
-
2.
Yonhap: South Korea conducts regular East Sea drills near Dokdo, second under current government – Highlights the drill’s place as the second under President Lee, the unchanged scale, Japan’s formal protest, and the historical cadence of the exercises .
Timeline
Aug 15 1945 – South Korea regains sovereignty over Dokdo after Japan’s colonial rule ends, establishing a small police detachment that maintains a continuous presence on the islets. This post‑liberation administration becomes the legal basis for later defense drills. [1][2]
1986 – South Korea launches the first Dokdo defense drill, initiating a military practice aimed at safeguarding the disputed territory and signalling a long‑term security posture. [1][2]
2003 – The drills adopt a twice‑yearly schedule, institutionalising a predictable pattern of military readiness around Dokdo and underscoring Seoul’s enduring commitment to the claim. [1][2]
July 2025 – The Lee Jae Myung administration conducts its inaugural Dokdo defense drill, the first exercise under the current government, and continues the established biannual cadence. Japan’s foreign ministry files a diplomatic protest, reiterating its sovereignty claim. [1][2]
Dec 24 2025 – South Korea carries out its second Dokdo defense drill under President Lee Jae Myung; a military source says the exercise “aims to protect territory, people and property” and is conducted “on a scale similar to past exercises.” Japan’s foreign ministry “lodges protests” through diplomatic channels, highlighting persistent bilateral tension over the islets. [1][2]