Saturday morning’s Sankei reported that it learned on Friday that the South Korean navy will conduct training in waters off Takeshima (known as Dokdo in South Korea) starting on March 27. The paper said the GOJ is already aware of the plan and has lodged a protest with the South Korean government through a diplomatic channel. Foreign Minister Kishida told reporters on Saturday: “It is regrettable and totally unacceptable considering our position regarding territorial rights over Takeshima.” The paper said the training will be the first of its kind since Japan recalled its ambassador in protest of South Korea’s failure to remove a comfort woman statue from in front of the Japanese Consulate General in Busan.