By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Having an external enemy is sometimes a way to resolve internal disputes. Conservative and progressive groups, who confronted each other over American beef imports, are now joining forces to protest Japan's claim to Dokdo and the shooting death of a South Korean tourist at the North's Mount Geumgang resort.

While they gathered at Seoul Plaza with two different opinions over the beef issue, they are now gathering in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul with a united voice to denounce the Japanese move.

Some 100 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, a progressive umbrella union, criticized Japan's claiming of the islets as its territory, as well as the Lee Myung-bak government's diplomacy.

``Japan's claim is apparently an aggressive act and Japan is still haunted by its past imperialism. We cannot forgive Japan which plans such provocative behavior without reflection on its wartime atrocities,'' the union said in its statement during a rally in front of the embassy Wednesday.

The group claimed that such an act was a result of President Lee's humiliating diplomacy.

About 300 members of the Korea Agent Orange Veterans' Association, one of conservative civic groups, called for Japan to scrap the description of Dokdo as its territory in a teaching guidebook for middle school teachers.

Both the conservative-leaning Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations and progressive Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union have decided to give special lectures on Dokdo to students starting the second semester.

The two groups are separately making handbooks about the easternmost islets, and are considering announcing a joint statement and having joint lectures.

``The subject of national history is being neglected at schools. We'll discuss ways to attach more importance to the subject,'' Kim Dong-seok, the spokesman of the association said. Hyun In-cheol, the spokesman of the union, also said, ``We'll form solidarity with any teachers' groups on the Dokdo issue, which is an historical, social, and educational matter.''

Regarding the killing of tourist Park Wang-ja by a North Korean soldier at Mount Geumgang, both conservatives and progressives called for the government and the tour operator Hyundai Asan to conduct a thorough investigation to find the truth. The veterans' association members rallied in front of the company building.

However, their opinions about the move differed. Conservative groups, including the New Right Union, demanded the government cease all aid to North Korea, while progressives claimed the government should resume efforts for a peaceful relationship with the North.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr