512:
Dokdo Island is first noted in historical texts

1145:
Area that includes Dokdo is mentioned in the official "History of the Three Kingdoms"

Early 15th century:
The "Annals of King Sejong" describes how Dokdo can be seen from Ulleungdo during good weather

May 1696:
Ahn Yong-bok and a group of fisherman warn Japanese seamen to stay away from Ulleungdo and Dokdo. Ahn later obtains a letter from Japanese authorities acknowledging Ulleungdo and Dokdo to be Korean territory.

1870:
Japanese officials dispatched to Korea submitted a report to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the reasons why Matsushima (Ulleungdo) and Takeshima (Dokdo) belonged to Korea.

March 1822:
An instruction document of Taejungkwan, a Japanese government authority, clearly states that Takeshima (Dokdo) and Matsushima (Ulleungdo) do not belong to Japanese territory.

1900:
Korea Imperial Decree No. 41 placed Dokdo under the jurisdiction of the Ulleungdo County Office.

Feb. 22, 1905:
Shimane Prefecture in Japan passes a municipal notice incorporating Dokdo as part of its jurisdiction.

Nov. 18, 1905:
Japan forces Korea to sign the Eulsa Treaty, surrendering power over its own affairs.

1910:
Japan officially annexes Korea, claiming all territory as its own.

Aug. 1945:
Japan is defeated in World War II; Korea regains its sovereignty.

Sept. 1947-Jan. 1953:
The United States intermittently uses Dokdo for bombing practice.

September 1951:
The San Francisco Peace Treaty resolves Korea's post-war claims with Japan, officially returning Ulleungdo, Jejudo and Geomundo.

January 1952:
The Republic of Korea's first president, Syngman Rhee, establishes a "Peace Line" that includes Dokdo in the East Sea.

November 1954:
Korean sentries fire mortars at three approaching Japanese ships.

1965:
Korea and Japan restored diplomatic ties.

Feb. 23, 2005:
Japanese Ambassador Toshiyuki Takano asserts that Dokdo is "historically and legally Japanese territory."

March 16, 2005:
Shimane Prefecture passes a bill declaring Feb. 22 as "Takeshima Day," the Japanese name for Dokdo.

April 8, 2005:
President Roh Moo-hyun says: "Dokdo was taken away during Japan's war of aggression but had been returned to Korea in 1945. We have abundant evidence that Korea has had sovereignty over and actually controlled the islands for a long, long time."