South Korea has protested a Takeshima Day event held in Japan on Thursday. South Korea calls the Takeshima Islands Dokdo and claims sovereignty over them.

A statement from a South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday that Seoul strongly protests Japan's repeated and unjust territorial claims to Dokdo, as demonstrated by the hosting of so-called "Takeshima Day," and urges Japan to immediately abolish the event.

The statement went on to say that Dokdo is undoubtedly an integral part of Korean territory, historically, geographically and by international law. It stated that the Japanese government must promptly abandon its unjust claims to Dokdo and squarely face history in a humble manner.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry also summoned Mibae Taisuke, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, and lodged a protest.

In response, Mibae stated that the Takeshima Islands are an integral part of Japanese territory, historically and according to the international law.

In addition, the ministry said South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul raised the issue during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Kamikawa Yoko, on Wednesday in Brazil. Cho protested over the fact that Shimane Prefecture in western Japan held the annual event and that the Japanese government sent a parliamentary vice-minister to attend it.