Presidential Spokesperson Lee Dong-kwan made the following remarks in a briefing this afternoon.

President Lee Myung-bak said today that he could not help but express profound disappointment and great displeasure at the Japanese Government’s decision to describe Dokdo Island as its territory in their teachers’ guidebook for middle school textbooks. This is especially so in light of an agreement between the leaders of the two countries that Korea and Japan should face up to history and establish a future-oriented bilateral relationship. He continued to say emphatically that Dokdo Island cannot constitute a subject of dispute because the issue of Dokdo relates not only to history but also to Korea’s sovereign territory. President Lee instructed that this matter should be dealt with adamantly and sternly.

Japan has promised to make efforts to build future-oriented relations whenever a new Administration has taken office in Korea. With passage of time, however,Japan showed a tendency to negate its pledge trying to make sovereignty over Dokdo Island a subject of dispute. These acts should not be repeated any longer.