A South Korean media outlet says the country's military conducted a regular drill in mid-December near islands claimed by Japan.

The Yonhap News Agency reported on the exercise on Friday, quoting a South Korean military source.

South Korea conducts an exercise on island defense twice a year near the islands, which the country controls and calls Dokdo. Japan claims the islands and calls them Takeshima.

Yonhap said the latest drill, the fourth under President Yoon Suk-yeol, was not open to the media and apparently did not involve any landings.

The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory, in terms of history and international law. Tokyo has repeatedly demanded that Seoul stop the drills.

South Korea's defense ministry says the exercises are conducted to carry out the mission of protecting the country's territory, people and property.

Meanwhile, an educational text for soldiers, published by the South Korean military this week, is being recalled after it was found to describe the islands as a disputed territory.

The decision came after Yoon said describing the islands in such terms should never happen.