The Japanese government says it will now refer to South Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo as Japanese territory in teaching guidelines for high school teachers.

Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has unveiled new sets of teaching guidelines that contain Japan’s sovereignty claim over Dokdo.

The decision is expected to provoke a diplomatic row with South Korea.

Japan first included its territorial claim over the islets in a textbook published by the ultra-rightist Fusosha Publishing Company in 2004.

Last year, the Japanese government described Dokdo as part of its territory in teaching guidelines for middle school teachers, causing the South Korean government to recall its ambassador to Japan in protest.