1. The government of the Republic of Korea expresses deep regret over the Japanese government's authorization on March 22 of middle school textbooks containing preposterous claims over Dokdo and other claims that do not conform to historical facts.
2. Particularly, the ROK government strongly protests against the fact that the Japanese government once again authorized textbooks containing its preposterous claims over Dokdo, which is clearly an integral part of the ROK territory historically, geographically and under international law. The ROK government makes it clear that Japanese claims over Dokdo are entirely unacceptable.
3. The ROK government also expresses strong regret over the alterations made in the expressions and descriptions on the issues of “comfort women” victims of the Imperial Japanese Army as well as forced labor victims during Japanese colonial rule, in a way that does not reveal the coercive nature. The ROK government urges the Japanese government to pursue history education based on the spirit of apology and remorse for its past history that the Japanese government itself has already expressed.
4. As building a future-oriented bilateral relationship starts with a correct understanding of history, the ROK government hopes that the Japanese government will squarely face history and take a more responsible attitude in educating the young generation.