`Ozawa pledged to give up Dokdo claim to Pres. Lee in `09`

Veteran Japanese politician Ichiro Ozawa in December 2009 pledged to have Japan conditionally give up its claim to Korea`s easternmost islets of Dokdo if he became prime minister in talks with Korean President Lee Myung-bak, diplomatic sources said Wednesday.

One source involved with the meeting said Wednesday that Ozawa stressed the necessity of "addressing Korean resentment" over Japan’s previous colonial occupation of Korea to improve bilateral relations. Resolving the Dokdo row was the “top priority,” Ozawa was quoted as saying. The long-time powerbroker is a former leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.

On ending the dispute, Ozawa also said Tokyo should stop its territorial claim over Dokdo and recognize Seoul’s control over it, telling President Lee, “I`ll do it if I become a prime minister.”

Saying Japan’s claim to Dokdo is related to the interests of the Japanese fishing industry, the Japanese politician then demanded that Korea grant fishermen from Japan`s Shimane Prefecture the right to fish in waters near Dokdo.

Albeit unofficial, the comments are considered unusual in that a major Japanese political leader hinted at Tokyo giving up its claim to Dokdo.

Ozawa also said that if he became prime minister, he would make a formal announcement through the Imperial Household Agency that the Japanese emperor’s ancestors came from the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje. He also proposed to President Lee that Tokyo would try to have the emperor visit Korea in 2010, the centennial anniversary of Japan’s annexation of Korea.

President Lee is said to have made no response to the proposal.

yoonkm5@donga.com