The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) has urged the government to strongly respond to Japan’s latest territorial claim over South Korea’s Dokdo islets in the East Sea.

During a meeting with government officials Thursday, the chief policy-maker of the GNP, Kim Seong-jo, said quiet diplomacy is insufficient.

Kim also asked Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan to recall South Korea’s ambassador to Japan and, if deemed necessary, expel the Japanese ambassador to Seoul.

Yu, on his part, said it is highly regrettable that Japan has renewed its claim over Dokdo in the centennial year of Japan’s annexation of Korea.

Yu added that Japan’s latest claim is a letdown for the majority of people in both countries, who are conscientious and desire to turn over a new leaf in Korea-Japan relations.

Yu said the South Korean government would respond firmly and calmly to any territorial claims by Japan to the Dokdo islets in the East Sea.

Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology approved Tuesday five elementary social studies textbooks in which Dokdo is described as Japanese territory. The textbooks will be used starting next year.