Seoul: The South Korean armed forces launched a two-day military exercise to defend the easternmost islets of Dokdo on Sunday, in a show of its staunch defence stance against Japan’s claim over the cluster of rocks in the East Sea.
The drills have been held twice a year, usually in June and December. But this year’s drills have been pushed back amid an escalating trade row with Japan stemming from differences over wartime forced labour. Japan, which has made territorial claims to Dokdo, has protested the drills. (IANS)
