SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korea recently conducted non-public defense drills near Dokdo, its easternmost islets in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday, prompting protests from Japan.
Citing a source of South Korea's Navy, the report said the country holds the East Sea territorial defense drills on a regular annual basis, with the latest exercise conducted in a manner and on a scale largely similar to previous drills in terms of training methods and participating forces.
The drills marked their second conduction since President Lee Jae Myung took office. A similar drill was conducted in July this year, according to the report.
Japan's Foreign Ministry said it lodged strong protests over the exercise, reiterating its long-standing position on what it calls Takeshima. ■
