Tokyo, Feb. 3 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato on Wednesday refrained from commenting on the removal of the description of Japan as a partner in a white paper released by South Korea’s defense ministry on Tuesday.

The biennial defense report described Japan only as a neighboring country of South Korea. In the previous defense white paper, Japan was regarded as a partner and neighboring country.

“I’m not in a position to comment on the South Korean government’s intention,” Kato told a press conference.

Meanwhile, the top government spokesman said that Tokyo has made a protest against the latest report’s references regarding understanding of history and an incident in late 2018 in which a South Korean warship directed a radar at a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol plane. Tokyo told Seoul that they are “unacceptable” to Japan, according to Kato.