UPDATE - South Korea holds 2nd military drill under Lee administration near disputed islands with Japan

UPDATES WITH REACTION FROM JAPAN

By Saadet Gokce and Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – South Korea this week held its second military drill under the administration of President Lee Jae Myung near islands disputed with Japan, local media reported Wednesday.

"Our military has conducted East Sea defense drills on a regular basis each year. This exercise was also implemented to fulfill the mission of protecting our territory, people and property," a military source said, confirming that the drill took place on Tuesday, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

The source said the latest exercise was similar in scale to past drills in terms of training methods and participating assets.

The exercise took place near disputed islets with Japan in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

The islets, known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea, are controlled by South Korea but claimed by Japan.

In response to the drills, Japan on Wednesday lodged a protest with South Korea, according to a statement from Tokyo’s Foreign Ministry.

Senior Japanese government officials protested to South Korea's Foreign Ministry and its embassy in Tokyo.

Japan has previously lodged diplomatic protests following similar exercises.

The first military drill under the Lee administration was held in July.