S Korea conducts defense drills near Dokdo

South Korea conducted defense drills in waters near the easternmost islets of Dokdo on Friday to prepare for any situation where foreigners trespass in the territorial waters, amid a continued diplomatic standoff with Japan. The joint operation by Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard was held under a scenario in which the maritime police play a leading role if citizens of other countries attempt to approach and illegally land on the islets, Yonhap news agency reported today, quoting senior military sources. After the one-day training, the Navy will hold their own regular drills in the East Sea through Monday, they noted. The Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Colonel Lee Bung-woo said, "The exercise was carried out under the scenario in which the Coast Guard took a leading role in repelling foreign civilians invading territorial waters near Dokdo or trying to land on Dokdo. The military provided support for the Coast Guard during the operation." Later today, Takashi Kurai, Japan's deputy chief of mission in Seoul, visited Seoul's foreign ministry to protest the exercise, Yonhap reported.