Statement by on Dokdo the Office of the Cheong Wa Dae Chief Secretary for Unification, Foreign and Security Policy
April 25, 2006
The special message by President Roh Moo-hyun, which was televised nationwide this morning, was aimed at clarifying the fundamental stance of the Korean Government with regard to Korea-Japan ties as well as urging the Japanese people and their leaders to promptly rectify the wrongdoings of their Government.
Dokdo is an integral part of Korean territory. The islets were forcibly annexed to Japan in a clandestine manner by Imperial Japan during the Russo-Japanese War as part of their process of usurping the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, it was only natural that Dokdo was restored to Korea upon liberation in 1945 as part of Korea's recovery of sovereignty over its territory. Nevertheless, Japan has continued to maintain its territorial claim to Dokdo. Japan has also tried to turn the islets into a region subject to territorial disputes.
Japan's continued claim to Dokdo is tantamount to reasserting a territorial right over what it occupied during the colonial era. It is as if Japan is justifying a war of aggression and 35 years of colonial rule on the Korean Peninsula. In this light, Japan should withdraw its unjust claim to Dokdo and acknowledge the islets as part of the Korean territory. To protect Korea's sovereignty, the Government will not make any compromise or concession with regard to Dokdo.
Based on this awareness of our history, the Korean Government is determined that the matter of Dokdo can no longer be dealt with through quiet and diplomatic responses. This is because the Japanese Government has proceeded with a plan to conduct maritime surveys within the waters of Korea's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The matter of Dokdo must be dealt with openly and proactively in line with efforts to uphold our history of independence and self-esteem as well as to safeguard the nation's sovereignty.
This recognition will become the basis for the Korean Government's stance as we respond to Japan's provocative and unjust claim over Dokdo, negotiate the demarcation of EEZ boundaries in the East Sea, and seek to register Korean names for various topographical features in the East Sea seabed.
President Roh's message was intended to indicate the determination of the Korean Government and its people that we will not to be easily swayed in Korea-Japan relations over individual matters, including Dokdo, but that we will develop a future-oriented relationship by shedding light on the historic record between the two countries. The President's message also presents a framework for Korea's views on Korea-Japan relations and regional cooperation in Northeast Asia.
The Significance of Changes in the Policy of Quiet Responses
So far, the Government has maintained a policy of a quiet response on the Dokdo issue. Under the circumstances that Korea has effective control of the islets, it judged that creating contention between the two countries would not be helpful in solving the problem and that a dispute over the islets would put a burden on Korea-Japan relations that need to further develop friendship and cooperation.
All along Korea has carried out quiet diplomacy, making only restrained responses, so as not to be embroiled in the Japanese scheme to turn Dokdo into a region subject to territorial disputes. All this while, however, Japan has taken the offensive. A case in point is a map that Japan submitted to the International Hydrographic Organization for its planned maritime surveys. The scope of the planned survey on the map borders on Dokdo and Ulleungdo on the far left. The Korean Government is in the situation where it cannot and should not stick to its policy of quiet response.
As President Roh made clear in the special message today, the Dokdo issue goes beyond a territorial matter. He said that it is a matter of history as well as of the sovereignty of the Republic, and therefore it is not something that can be conceded or negotiated in any way. In the future, the Government will respond to this problem with a proactive and resolute stance. The Government's position is that there is no reason whatsoever that Dokdo should become an object of territorial dispute because it is part of the Japanese colonial legacy that should be rectified. In the future, the Government will respond to Japan's ludicrous claims and provocations proactively and resolutely.
The Impact of the Dokdo Issue on Korea-Japan Ties and on the Regional Situation
Using what they called International laws and coersion, Japan forced Korea to sign unequal bilateral treaties with it, and finally took sovereignty from the Korean people. Dokdo was part of this. And now, Japan is demanding the island that it once occupied forcibly. Korea cannot afford to again lose Dokdo, which was the first sacrifice of the Japanese colonialists' forced usurpation. Anyone will be able to judge which country will contribute more to world history.
Ever since its inauguration, the Participatory Government of President Roh Moo-hyun has striven under the basic principle of looking straight into the past but working together for a brighter future in its relations with Japan. Helping to open an age of Northeast Asia was envisioned in the same context of developing future-oriented relations with Japan. Despite our efforts, however, Japan took actions freely in its own interests that have made past history a controversy again. Whenever this happened, the Korean Government urged a group of ultranationalistic leaders in Japan to stop immediately from wrongly justifying their history of aggression. Such behavior by Japan can seriously impair the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries as well as the peace and stability of Northeast Asia. Their behavior is not compatible with Japan's national interests, either. Japan should realize this before it is too late and conduct itself according to international common sense and as an economic power should.
Korea Doesn't Want Any Further Apology from Japan, but Rather Proper Conduct
During the period leading up to the World War II, many countries expanded their territory and imposed colonial rule. After the war, they relinquished the acquired territories, and, of those countries, Japan is the only one that wants to have its old colonial territory back. Through a war of aggression, Japan usurped Dokdo and surreptitiously annexed it into Shimane Prefecture. Now, Japan wants it back again; this is not the way to make peace. Only through clear recognition of facts can Japan expect a bright future to be shared with others.
As the President clarified in his message today, "We do not call for a new apology any more." In October 1998, President Kim Dae-jung and Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi issued the Joint Declaration on a New ROK-Japan Partnership for the 21st Century. The Declaration reads in part, "Prime Minister Obuchi...humbly accepted the historic fact that Japanese colonial rule inflicted unbearable suffering and pain on the Korean people and expressed painfully deep repentance and heartfelt apology for the ordeal...(the two leaders) reflected on the past relationship…and exchanged views on the desirable relations in the future."
Korea does not want to hear any more apologies. What it wants to see is Japan conducting itself in a way that is compatible with the apology in the Joint Declaration. Only when Japan goes about their work in that spirit, will the two countries be able to settle various pending issues in a desirable way, including negotiations on the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
Korea Will File Its Own Topographical Names At an Early Date
Under the circumstances that the boundary of the EEZs has not been agreed on, Japan unfairly and unilaterally filed Japanese names internationally for undersea topographical features. It is our legitimate right to try to rectify the situation. At an early date, the Korean Government will make necessary preparations and file our own names for the undersea topographical features.
In EEZ Demarcation Negotiations, Our Stance that Dokdo is Korean Territory Will Also Be Retained
Dokdo is an integral part of Korean territory that must not be violated, and it should not be an issue with Japan. The Government's official policies will be formulated on the basis of a recognition of this fact. Regarding this problem, we will consider national interests comprehensively, and the possibility of making Dokdo as a base point is open.
As President Roh clarified in his special message today, and as the Government prepares for the EEZ talks, the Dokdo problem will be deliberated and decided in the context that it is not a mere territorial matter but a matter of history and of protecting national sovereignty. In the process, the Government will naturally put into perspective the Korea-Japan relations of today and yesterday and engage in the negotiations with a positive attitude that it is important to develop desirable, future-oriented bilateral ties.
Preparatory Measures in Case the Problem Develops into Physical Confrontation
Have we, the Korean people, ever in history initiated a physical clash with any outside force? As an affront to Korea's just plan to file Korean topographical names for undersea features, and under a pretext of a maritime survey, Japan is mulling a physical action of invading our territorial waters and territory. This is the scope of the reality Korea is facing now. We are ready and determined to pay any and all costs required to safeguard our sovereignty. If a physical clash occurs, it will have been initiated by Japan, not Korea. And of course, all consequences stemming from a clash will fall on the perpetrator.
International Public Opinion and Approach to Persuade the Japanese Public
The special message made by President Roh today is one of the ways to actively persuade and appeal to international public opinion and the Japanese people. The Government trusts that the Japanese people have sound common sense and discerning capabilities. In order to help Japan rectify historic problems in a rightful manner, Korea will continue to respond in accordance with its own logic and judgment.
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