SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Saturday protested at Japan's repeated territorial claims to the disputed islets lying halfway between the two countries, called Dokdo by South Korea and Takeshima by Japan.

South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the South Korean government strongly protested against Japan's unjust repeated sovereignty claims over Dokdo, which is an integral part of the South Korean territory historically, geographically and under international law.

The ministry also expressed a strong protest against the attendance of a high-level Japanese government official at the "Takeshima Day" event hosted by Shimane Prefecture.

The prefecture has held annual events to claim its administrative sovereignty over the rocky islets since it designated Feb. 22 as Takeshima Day in 2005.

The islets, covering an area of about 0.18 square kilometers, are claimed by South Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Japan. South Korea currently controls the islets. Enditem

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