Lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties will visit Dokdo island in the East Sea on Liberation Day, South Korea's parliament said Sunday.

The 10 lawmakers led by Rep. Na Kyung-won will visit Dokdo by helicopter on Monday and talk to the small contingent of police officers stationed there. They will also inspect various infrastructure facilities and the natural ecosystem on the island.

Dokdo is made up of 89 rock formations and outcroppings, including the two main islands. It has a helipad and docking facilities, and is home to unique vegetation and wildlife.

Besides Na, who is a four-term lawmaker and former head of the parliament's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, six lawmakers from the ruling Saenuri Party will visit Dokdo, along with two from the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea and one minor opposition People's Party.

The planned visit comes despite a formal protest lodged by Japan's foreign ministry and its embassy in Seoul. Japan views Dokdo as its territory.

South Korea has brushed off such claims as nonsense and maintains that Dokdo is Korea's inherent territory historically, geographically and by international law. Japan's territorial ambitions have been one of the sticking points in bilateral relations over the past several decades.

Regarding the objections raised, Rep. Na told Yonhap News Agency that Tokyo's protest does not even warrant a response.

"Japan's territorial claims are meaningless, and the visit will take place as planned," she said.

This view was echoed by Rep. Song Il-jong, who arranged the trip.

"The trip is a natural part of parliamentary activities by lawmakers," he stressed. (Yonhap)