Seoul Protests Japanese Dokdo Claim

The South Korean government filed a protest yesterday after Japan’s Ministry of Education instructed Japanese high school history book publishers to describe Dokdo, a cluster of South Korean islets in the East Sea, as Japanese territory. The government urged the ministry to rescind the instructions, calling the move provocative.

In a statement issued on the same day, the South Korean government strongly censured Japan, saying, “This incident is another attempt by the Japanese government to falsely represent history and its acts of aggression. Along with the visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, it is highly questionable whether the Japanese government really wants to develop better relations with Korea for the peaceful co-existence and co-prosperity of Northeast Asia.”

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon summoned Shotaro Oshima, the Japanese Ambassador to Seoul, to deliver a message of "regret and protest" over Tokyo`s renewed claims to Dokdo and reiterate that Korea will not accept any attempt by the Japanese government to undermine Korea’s sovereignty.

Ambassador Oshima reportedly responded, “Tokyo has a different view on the Dokdo issue from Seoul and the Korean government is probably well aware of that.” Both ruling and opposition parties in Korea strongly criticized the move by Japan, describing it an act of diplomatic provocation.

Criticizing the Japanese government, the Grand National Party also blamed the incumbent Roh administration’s misguided diplomatic policies for this controversial move. Lee Bang-ho, chairperson of the Grand National Party policy committee, said, “The diplomatic rhetoric of President Roh has been problematic, and it might have driven the Japanese government to issue a diplomatic challenge.”

Jong-Koo Yoon Yong-Gwan Jung jkmas@donga.com yongari@donga.com