Korea snubs call to take Dokdo to int'l court
By Lee Tae-hoon
As widely anticipated, Seoul on Friday snubbed Tokyo’s demand to go the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle an alleged territorial dispute over Dokdo, a set of rocky islets located between Korea and Japan.
“It’s absolutely worthless to pay attention to the Japanese government’s proposal or plan to take the Dokdo issue to the ICJ,” said Cho Tai-young, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT).
“There isn’t any territorial dispute over Dokdo as it is clearly inherent Korean territory. Dokdo is historically, geographically, and according to international laws a part of Korea.”
Earlier in the day, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura announced the proposal to ask the ICJ to resolve the Dokdo issue in an apparent protest against President Lee Myung-bak’s surprise visit to the islets on Aug. 10.
It was the first time since 1962 for Japan to make such a proposal to Korea.
The MOFAT spokesman warned that Korea will take stern measures against any attempt by Japan to hamper Seoul from exercising its sovereignty over Dokdo, the country’s easternmost islets that Japan claims to have effectively annexed in 1905.
“Our government will sternly deal with Japan’s provocations over Dokdo,” Cho said, urging Japan to retract its proposal to take the issue at the ICJ.
Korea regained control over the rocky outcrops following Japan’s defeat in World War II.
However, Tokyo has been reluctant to accept the Allied Powers’ decision in 1952 to restore all of Korean territory taken by Japan’s “violence and greed.”
Observers say the chance of settling the issue of Dokdo at the ICJ is highly unlikely because Tokyo must secure Seoul’s consent to have the case heard at the court.
“We have neither any reason to go the ICJ nor any intention to go there,” a senior government official said.
Koreans regard Japan’s territorial claims over Dokdo as a sign Tokyo has not fully repented for its imperialist past, including forcing of Korean women into sexual slavery for Japanese troops during World War II.
Meanwhile, Japan's Finance Minister Jun Azumi confirmed that Tokyo will “reconsider” a currency swap arrangement with Korea, in the latest sign that the diplomatic chill has swelled to bilateral economic and other relations.
He said Japan canceled a meeting set for this month with Korean Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan and it will reconsider the agreement with Korea to expand a currency swap to $70 billion.
Korea plans to carry out a military drill early next month around Dokdo that will involve deploying marines as well as the use of warships and fighter aircraft.
Rep. Yoo Seong-min and other lawmakers also said that plans to carry out a military drill around the islets should be carefully enforced since it could further escalate tensions.