South Korea on Friday protested Japan's territorial claim over the disputed islets of Dokdo, which Japan calls Takeshima in a newly published Japanese defense white paper.

"The government strongly protests at the Japanese government's description of Dokdo as its own territory in the defense white paper issued on Sept. 5," said South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young in a statement.

"The government calls for Japan to take immediate measures to correct it," he said.

The official said Dokdo clearly belongs to South Korea historically, geographically, and by international law.

According to local media, Japan released its latest defense white paper earlier on the day, which says the dispute over Dokdo's ownership between South Korea and Japan remains unsettled.

The Dokdo islets are located some 89 km southeast to the South Korean Uleung Island and 160 km northwest to the Japanese Oki Island. Both South Korea and Japan claim territorial sovereignty over them.

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2008)