By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter

Japan's repeated claims to the South Korean islets of Dokdo are a potential threat to the peace and stability of Northeast Asia and could disrupt South Korea-Japan relations any time, researchers said Thursday.

The Japanese government's recent decision to adopt school textbooks describing Dokdo as part of its territory shows how Japan is intensifying its claim over the islets. However, the Korean government is not doing enough to defend its sovereignty over Dokdo, according to the researchers.

The forum, hosted by the Northeast Asian History Foundation, focused on territorial issues in East Asia, particularly Japan's moves to claim Dokdo and reactions from neighboring nations.

``The Dokdo debate touches on Korea's identity and national pride,'' said Bae Jin-soo from the Dokdo Research Institute affiliated with the foundation. ``The islets represent Japan's first imperialistic move in the early 20th century. When Japan was trying to rob Korea's national sovereignty, it first incorporated Dokdo as part of Japan. That was done illegally.''

Bae continued, ``Japan's repeated territorial claim over Dokdo also represents the continuing rise of far-right forces there. It could potentially damage the relations between Korea and Japan as well as the peace in Northeast Asia.''

Many scholars at the forum said Japan should acknowledge Korea's territorial sovereignty over the islets, as a sign of Japan's repentance for its colonial rule.

They said Japan's territorial claim will only prompt strong reactions from Koreans and make the situation worse. This will make it more difficult for the countries' governments to cooperate.

Kim Ki-jeong, a professor of Yonsei University, said the Dokdo controversy is a historical legacy, which is not only the object of a territorial dispute but also vestiges of Japanese imperialism, which must be eliminated.

The forum, which ends today, marks the first anniversary of the Dokdo Research Institute, tasked to develop long-term strategies and measures to counter Japan's claims over the islets.

Participants included John Duncan, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles; Fukuhara Yuji from the University of Shimane; Clive Schofield from the University of Wollongong of Australia; and Anthony Carty from the University of Hong Kong.

jj@koreatimes.co.kr