Korea-Japan Dispute Over Saury Ruptured

The Korea-Japan unofficial meeting to resolve the fishery conflict around the saury fishing in the South Kurile Islands finished in the central government office building in Seoul, only confirming the differences between both`s positions. Both countries decided to have a meeting again in Tokyo, Japan soon.

The Japan urged only Korea`s concession, stressing that the fishing in the South Kurile Islands by the Korean fishing boats involves the sovereignty of Japan, and did not offer any alternative, like the offer of the substitute fishing area.

The Japanese delegation delivered to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Korea, Han Seung-Soo, the official letter of Danaka Makiko, the foreign minister of Japan, urging Korea to give up the fishing in the South Kurile Islands, because the fishery in the South Kurile Islands is likely to be a political issue.

Howevern, the government confirmed repeatedly the Korea`s position to keep fishing in the South Kurile Islands which is scheduled on 15th in case there is no realistic and sincere alternative from the Japanese side. And the government demanded the Japanese government to immediately withdraw the measure prohibiting the saury fishing of the Korean fishing boats in the Sanriku Sea area.

An official of the government anticipated that the fishery dispute will be aggravated, saying that ``while we try to find out the compromise via close dialog, the Japanese has not yet offered the concrete alternatives worthy to review. In current situation, an optimistic prospect is difficult``.

Boo Hyung-Kwon bookum90@donga.com