Protesters burn the Japanese national flag in a rally at a park in Seoul, Monday, denouncing Japan’s description of the South Korean islets as its territory in an educational guidebook.
/ Korea Times Photo
by Koh Young-kwon |
Seoul Maps Out Countermeasures to Tokyo’s Claim Over Dokdo
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak will recall South Korea's ambassador to Japan Wednesday in protest of Tokyo's decision to define South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo as its territory in guidebooks for history teachers.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan also called in Japanese Ambassador Toshinori Shigeie and delivered a message of protest.
``It is deeply regrettable and disappointing that Tokyo has once again laid claim to Dokdo, which is part of South Korea's territory, historically, geographically and under international laws,'' Lee said. ``I will deal sternly with any attempts to ignore Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo.''
Political parties also called for strong action against Japan. In a statement, the governing Grand National Party (GNP) called Japan's claim an ``act of aggression and madness.''
The strong words came after Tokyo said it would refer in a middle school teaching guide to the islets as Japanese territory. The document for teachers and textbook publishers is non-binding, but will likely influence textbook contents.
Korea's Ambassador to Japan Kwon Chul-hyun visited the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo in the afternoon to officially protest the ``distortion.''
Cheong Wa Dae said Seoul is considering boycotting the summit talks between the leaders of South Korea, China and Japan, scheduled for September in Japan.
Japanese Ambassador Toshinori Shigeie arrives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade after being summoned by Minister Yu Myung-hwan, Monday. / Yonhap |
``Japan has again laid territorial claim to Dokdo in violation of bilateral partnership agreements,'' Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said. ``We are determined to take strong countermeasures. We will take various diplomatic, academic and administrative actions to strengthen our sovereign control of Dokdo.''
The territorial dispute is expected to deepen in the weeks to come, dampening Seoul's efforts to improve relations with Tokyo. Japan has frequently claimed that the islets, known as Takeshima in Japanese, belong to it.
Last week, President Lee met with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on the sidelines of an expanded G8 summit in Japan and conveyed the South Korean people's concern about the move to define Dokdo as Japanese territory. Lee called for a ``future-oriented relationship'' between the two neighbors and Fukuda welcomed the proposal.
The Ministry of Defense said it has ordered troops to reinforce the defense of the islets.
The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said it would conduct extensive research into the ecosystem, fishing resources and maritime environment in the sea surrounding Dokdo.
The education minister will also send a letter of protest to his Japanese counterpart, while the South Korean police chief will call the head of the contingent stationed on Dokdo to give words of encouragement and instruct on the reinforcement of maritime defenses, the presidential office said.
South Korean academic foundations will hold a series of forums in Seoul to call international attention to the past record of Japan's historical and territorial distortions.
When Tokyo made a similar claim to Dokdo in 2005, then President Roh Moo-hyun adopted hard-line measures, suspending his shuttle diplomacy with then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and easing rules for South Koreans to travel to Dokdo.
jj@koreatimes.co.kr
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
