The Japanese government says a monument in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul memorializing Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japan during its colonial occupation is in violation of the Vienna Convention.

Japanese daily the Sankei Shimbun reported that on June 8th a Cabinet meeting officially stated the monument infringes on Article 22 of the treaty. The article states that the convention provides a framework for diplomatic missions by a foreign country in another state without fear of harassment or coercion by the host country.

Japan's statement was an answer to South Korea's parliamentary inquiries into the Japanese government’s positions on the Dokdo islets and its violent acts during the colonial period.

The Japanese government has repeatedly demanded the South Korean government demolish the monument since its installation.

Tokyo has also repeatedly requested that internet search provider Google change its label of Dokdo as a South Korean territory on its maps.