NSC Already Had Manual to Tackle Possible Dokdo Skirmish

It was reported that the National Security Council (NSC) had already set up a standard manual last year to deal with a crisis regarding the use of force by Japan over Korea’s sovereignty over Dokdo.

The manual was made, after members of a Japanese right-wing organization tried to land in Dokdo last May, in order to prevent similar cases from occurring. The Dokdo manual is one of 30 crisis management standard manuals which were released to the press last September. The existence of the manual itself was kept confidential because it was regarded as a sensitive issue, however.

"Political or diplomatic activities, such as the designation of “Takeshima Day” by Japan`s Shimane Prefecture, were hard to predict and therefore not included in the manual," an official of Cheong Wa Dae said.

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com