Survey Could Spark Korea-Japan Clash

The tension in the East Sea is rising as the Japanese government announced its plan to conduct a maritime survey in waters within Korea’s EEZ (exclusive economic zone) without a permit.

The Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun reported Tuesday that the government plans to send out a vessel for the survey around Thursday.

A Japanese Cost Guard official said, “We are still deciding on the date, but we have no intention to postpone or withdraw the planned survey.”

Japan’s Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Minister Kazuo Kitagawa also stated that Japan will go ahead with the plan, saying, “I hope that (both countries) will not get emotional about this issue. Since Japan’s maritime survey this time is in accordance with the international law, I ask for Korea’s understanding on this.”

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called in Japan’s Coast Guard Commandant Hiroki Ishikawa on Tuesday to hear about the maritime survey plans in the waters around the Dokdo islets and ordered him to “deal with the matter in a calm and accurate manner.”

On Monday, Korean Ambassador to Japan Ra Jong-il secretly met with Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi and discussed measures to avoid any physical clashes between the two countries.

Kwang-Am Cheon iam@donga.com