Diplomatic tension is high after a failed attempt by three Japanese lawmakers to visit a site near the islands on Monday. They were stopped at a Seoul airport and sent back to Tokyo.
Japan`s 2011 defence white paper describes the Dokdo islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), known as Takeshima in Tokyo, as Japanese territory.
South Korea`s defence ministry said it has lodged a serious protest.
"The defence ministry urges the Japanese government to realise they can never expect progress in bilateral military relations without giving up a claim to Dokdo," it said in a statement.
"We will respond resolutely to any attempt to violate our territorial rights."
The ministry said it summoned a military attache at the Japanese embassy to deliver its protest.
The latest flare-up in the decades-long row began when flag carrier Korean Air mounted a test flight of its new A380 aircraft over Dokdo in June. Tokyo in response ordered public servants not to use Korean Air for a month.
The three lawmakers from Japan`s conservative opposition Liberal Democratic Party also attempted to visit Ulleung island, the closest South Korean territory to the uninhabited rocky islets.
But they were refused entry at a Seoul airport and flew back home late Monday after refusing for hours to leave. Hundreds of angry South Koreans staged protests against the visit and burned photos of the Japanese.
Japan`s top government spokesman Monday described the entry ban as "deeply regrettable".
South Korea has deployed a small coastguard force on Dokdo and has sought to strengthen its control over the islets after Tokyo in March authorised new school textbooks reasserting its claims. (H-RN)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
