The South Korean government strongly protested the Japanese government's designation of Dokdo as Japanese territory in its defense white paper released on the 4th. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Japanese Embassy in Korea, and the Ministry of National Defense summoned the Defense Attache, each delivering a message of protest.

Meanwhile, the South Korean military conducted this year's first East Sea Territory Defense Training privately in waters near Dokdo. This training, which the military authorities use in place of 'Dokdo Defense Training,' is regularly held twice a year, marking the third such exercise since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration.

A Navy official explained to Channel A that the training was conducted with the purpose of responding to situations that threaten South Korea's territory, citizens, and property. The specific methods of the training and the scale of participating forces are known to be at similar levels to previous iterations.

On the other hand, Japan has officially protested every time the South Korean military conducts the East Sea Territory Defense Training, and recently reiterated its territorial claim over Dokdo in its defense white paper.