Dear editor,

Regarding the April 10 editorial, ``Calm but Firm,'' I'm convinced no matter how noisy the Japanese assertions on Dokdo are right now, the Korean government should stay calm and keep their official position that ``there is no territorial dispute regarding Dokdo.''

First, our noisy reaction is what Japan wants to drag this issue to the International Court of Justice. Japan's goal is to turn Dokdo into a region of dispute in the world community.

Among the 15 judges at the International Court, there is a one representative from Japan, and none from Korea. There is a real chance that Japan could prevail in that court. Therefore, the tacit reaction is a better choice.

Second, a series of media advertisements advocating Korea's sovereignty of Dokdo in recent days is unfortunately playing a role in publicizing to the world that Dokdo is an area of international territorial dispute.

I am regretful that the United States designated Dokdo's status as ``undesignated sovereignty'' in 2008 rather than its previous listing as Korean territory.

Therefore, the Korean government should work together with various nonprofit groups which can be more effective on Dokdo to effectively counter Japan's strategy. Nowadays, a few groups actually have effective programs that promote Korea's sovereignty over the islets.

The Japanese government has a long-term view on this topic and has been taking strategic steps in accordance with that view. I feel Koreans need to respond to that with a long-term, broad, and comprehensive strategy in a tacit way.

Ahn Jee-hye
Koen2000@naver.com