S. Korea to send diplomatic document to refute Japan's proposal over Dokdo
Last week, the Japanese government made the proposal by sending a "note verbale," a diplomatic document that is unsigned but more formal than a verbal request, to South Korea, suggesting they jointly refer the Dokdo issue to the ICJ, and further escalating tensions.
Bilateral diplomatic tension spiked after Tokyo strongly protested President Lee Myung-bak's unprecedented trip to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo on Aug. 10.
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| South Korea's governing body of basketball holds high school basketball matches on Dokdo on Aug. 25, 2012, amid heightened tensions sparked by Japan's claim to the easternmost South Korean territory. (Yonhap file photo) |
Seoul's foreign ministry will make clear once again its basic stance on the rocky outcroppings in the document that "no territorial disputes exist about Dokdo, which is South Korean territory historically, geographically and under international laws," a ministry official said, requesting anonymity.
The document is scheduled to be delivered to Tokyo via a diplomatic channel here, he added.
On the day of Japan's ICJ proposal, South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said "going to the ICJ is not worth consideration," vowing to take "stern measures" against Tokyo.
The Japanese proposal is not feasible as it must secure South Korea's consent to have the issue dealt with by the ICJ, according to the ministry. Two similar proposals by Japan in 1954 and 1962 were also instantly rejected.
Seoul's planned document in response will bring a halt to diplomatic tussles, at least temporarily, experts say, after tensions peaked last Friday when Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told a press conference that Tokyo would address territorial issues with South Korea and China with "unflagging resolve," repeating claims to Dokdo, and South Korea lodged strong protests.
"South Korea tries to deal with the issue at manageable levels and no additional responses have been made so far after we returned a protest letter last week from the Japanese prime minister. This could indicate a lull in the diplomatic war," a ministry official said.
Noda sent his letter on Aug. 17, describing as regrettable Lee's visit to Dokdo and his remarks that Japan's Emperor Akihiko should apologize for Japan's colonial rule during 1910-45 if he wishes to visit here.
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| South Korean President Lee Myung-bak (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. (Yonhap file photos) |
Japan has frequently laid claims to Dokdo, which lies closer to South Korea in the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, in school textbooks, government reports and other ways, stoking enmity in South Korea against its former colonial ruler.
South Koreans see those claims as amounting to denying Korea's rights because the country regained independence from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule and reclaimed sovereignty over its territory, which includes Dokdo and many other islands around the Korean Peninsula.
graceoh@yna.co.kr
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