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South Korea Summons Japanese Deputy Head Over Shimane Event Claiming Dokdo Islands

Updated (5 articles)
  • Hirotaka Matsuo, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, arrives at the South Korean foreign ministry in Seoul on Feb, 20, 2026, as Seoul protests the Japanese foreign minister's territorial claim to Dokdo during a parliamentary speech. (Yonhap)
    Hirotaka Matsuo, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, arrives at the South Korean foreign ministry in Seoul on Feb, 20, 2026, as Seoul protests the Japanese foreign minister's territorial claim to Dokdo during a parliamentary speech. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Hirotaka Matsuo, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, arrives at the South Korean foreign ministry in Seoul on Feb, 20, 2026, as Seoul protests the Japanese foreign minister's territorial claim to Dokdo during a parliamentary speech. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Hirotaka Matsuo (L), deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, arrives at the foreign ministry's headquarters in Seoul on Feb. 22, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Hirotaka Matsuo (L), deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, arrives at the foreign ministry's headquarters in Seoul on Feb. 22, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Hirotaka Matsuo (L), deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, arrives at the foreign ministry's headquarters in Seoul on Feb. 22, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Hirotaka Matsuo (L), deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, arrives at the foreign ministry's headquarters in Seoul on Feb. 22, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Hirotaka Matsuo (L), deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, arrives at the foreign ministry's headquarters in Seoul on Feb. 22, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Hirotaka Matsuo (L), deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, arrives at the foreign ministry's headquarters in Seoul on Feb. 22, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size

Diplomatic protest escalates after Shimane ceremony On 22 February 2026, South Korea’s foreign ministry summoned Hirotaka Matsuo, deputy head of Japan’s embassy in Seoul, to deliver a formal protest against a Shimane Prefecture event that reiterated Japan’s claim to the Dokdo islets [1]. Spokesperson Park Il demanded the immediate cancellation of the ceremony, declaring Dokdo “clearly an integral part of our territory in terms of history, geography and international law” [1]. The ministry urged Tokyo to abandon “unjustified claims” and to “face up to history in a humble manner.”

Earlier parliamentary claim triggers formal complaint Two days earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi addressed the Diet, referring to the islands as Takeshima and asserting Japanese sovereignty, continuing a decade‑long pattern of annual claims [2]. Seoul’s foreign ministry responded by filing a formal protest with the Japanese embassy, where Director‑General Kim Sang‑hoon handed the complaint to embassy officials and also summoned Matsuo for the same purpose [2]. The Korean statement labeled the Japanese claim “unjust” and pledged “resolution action” against such provocations.

Historical administration underpins Seoul’s stance The rocky islets have been administered by South Korea, with a small police detachment, since the end of Japanese rule in 1945, while Japan continues to reference the dispute in policy papers, textbooks, and public statements [1][2]. Both governments invoke historical, geographic, and international‑law arguments, keeping the Dokdo/Takeshima issue a persistent source of bilateral tension.

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Timeline

1881 – Nine Joseon officials are selected for a mission to Japan, spend four months observing a Western‑style administration and advanced technology, and signal Korea’s early interest in modernizing by learning from its neighbor [3].

1896 – The Joseon government issues a short‑hair edict, provoking fierce public resistance because hair is tied to Confucian ancestral rites, illustrating the clash between reform ambitions and traditional social norms [3].

2010 – North Korea proposes peace‑treaty talks to replace the Korean War armistice, suggesting discussion within an independent signatory meeting or the six‑party framework; South Korea reacts skeptically, warning the move could complicate multilateral nuclear negotiations [3].

2011 – A 120‑person South Korean Akh unit arrives in Dubai to train local soldiers, marking an expansion of Seoul’s defense cooperation abroad and showcasing its military diplomacy [3].

2017 – South Korea’s defense white paper reports that North Korea possesses 50 kg of weapons‑grade plutonium, informing deterrence assessments and regional security planning [3].

2019 – Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung‑tae faces prosecution questioning over a power‑abuse scandal, becoming the first former head of the court to be indicted on 47 counts and highlighting domestic judicial accountability [3].

Dec 9, 2025 – Seoul’s presidential office reaffirms Dokdo as unequivocally South Korean territory, rejects Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s renewed claim, declares there is no territorial dispute, and notes plans for President Lee Jae‑Myung’s potential visit to Nara for a summit [5].

Dec 15, 2025 – South Korea rebukes Japan’s UNESCO implementation report on the Sado forced‑labor mines, saying it fails to reflect the full history and honor Japan’s 2015 pledge; ICOMOS will review the report in the coming months [4].

Jan 2026 (planned) – Seoul and Tokyo coordinate President Lee Jae‑Myung’s visit to Nara Prefecture for a bilateral summit, aiming to sustain diplomatic momentum despite ongoing Dokdo tensions [5].

Feb 20, 2026 – Seoul’s foreign ministry files a formal protest with the Japanese embassy, demanding Japan retract its claim to Dokdo; Japanese FM Toshimitsu Motegi repeats the claim in parliament, calling the islets Takeshima and pledging a resolute response, continuing a decade‑long pattern of annual Japanese assertions [2].

Feb 22, 2026 – South Korea summons Deputy Head of Mission Hirotaka Matsuo, demanding the immediate cancellation of Japan’s annual Shimane event that asserts sovereignty over Dokdo; spokesperson Park Il sternly urges Tokyo to “face up to history in a humble manner,” emphasizing Dokdo’s integral status under history, geography and international law [1].

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