Regarding the Japanese government''s decision to mark Dokdo as its own territory in elementary school textbooks as of 2011, Korea''s National Assembly adopted a resolution on Apr. 2 calling for a retraction of that decision and the President pledged to seek measures to strengthen effective control over the Korean territory of Dokdo.

The National Assembly resolution stipulated that Dokdo is Korean territory historically, geographically and according to international law. It further said that the Japanese government''s move to define the island as its territory in school textbooks is an outright infringement on Korea''s territorial sovereignty and asked Japan to retract the decision forthwith.

The resolution said the Japanese government''s decision comes from an arrogant understanding of the miserable past without any regrets over its wrongdoings, and warned that such actions would significantly impair the friendship between the future generations of Korea and Japan.

Meanwhile, the President said at a meeting with representatives of the ruling Grand National Party on Apr. 2 that he would actively review the plan to step up Korea''s effective control over Dokdo, which was suggested by the representatives.

Earlier on Apr. 1, Prime Minister Chung Un-chan publicly denounced the Japanese government''s decision. At a policy briefing as to the analysis of the elementary school textbooks of Japan, Chung emphasized that Dokdo is irrefutably Korea''s territory and that there is no room for concession or discussion over the issue related to national sovereignty.