SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- Japanese patrol boats came close to waters around South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo 71 times in the first nine months of this year, data from the Joint Chiefs of Staff showed Friday.

The vessels did not violate South Korea's territorial waters, but came near the "contiguous zone," a band of water extending from the outer edge of the territorial sea to up to 24 nautical miles, according to the data provided by Rep. Chung Hee-soo of the ruling Saenuri Party.