ID :
46935
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 19:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/46935
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea condemns Japanese prefecture's claim to Dokdo
SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea hit out at a local Japanese government on Sunday for holding a cultural event aimed at promoting its claim to Dokdo, a set of South Korean-controlled islets in the East Sea.
The islets, called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese, has been a source
of intense territorial dispute between the two countries, despite their growing
economic and cultural exchanges. Japan claims that the islets are part of its
western Shimane prefecture.
Despite repated warnings from South Korea, the Japanese prefectural government
went ahead with its planned celebration of "Takeshima Day" on Sunday, an
anniversary it designated in 2005 to lay claim to the islets.
"The government expresses deep regrets that Japan's Shimane Prefecture had an
event to mark the 'Dokdo Day' despite our repeated request (not to do so),"
foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said in a statement. "The government
urges it to rescind the anniversary immediately and stop its claim to the
sovereignty over Dokdo."
There was no immediate response from Japan's central government to the South
Korean protest but it has so far made it clear that the islets fall under its
jurisdiction.
Moon stressed that the rocky outcroppings clearly belong to South Korea
historically, geographically, and by international law.
"The government will cope sternly with any attempts to violate our territorial
sovereignty over Dokdo," he added.
South Koreans also criticized Japan's move.
More than 1,000 people participated in a Seoul marathon to protest at the
Takeshima Day event.
A group of activists staged a protest rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in
Seoul, arguing that the "Takeshima Day" celebrations show Japan's intention to
"invade" Dokdo.
When South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso
had a summit in Seoul last month, they sidestepped the territorial issue to
focus on cooperating on the economic issue and the North Korean problem.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
The islets, called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese, has been a source
of intense territorial dispute between the two countries, despite their growing
economic and cultural exchanges. Japan claims that the islets are part of its
western Shimane prefecture.
Despite repated warnings from South Korea, the Japanese prefectural government
went ahead with its planned celebration of "Takeshima Day" on Sunday, an
anniversary it designated in 2005 to lay claim to the islets.
"The government expresses deep regrets that Japan's Shimane Prefecture had an
event to mark the 'Dokdo Day' despite our repeated request (not to do so),"
foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said in a statement. "The government
urges it to rescind the anniversary immediately and stop its claim to the
sovereignty over Dokdo."
There was no immediate response from Japan's central government to the South
Korean protest but it has so far made it clear that the islets fall under its
jurisdiction.
Moon stressed that the rocky outcroppings clearly belong to South Korea
historically, geographically, and by international law.
"The government will cope sternly with any attempts to violate our territorial
sovereignty over Dokdo," he added.
South Koreans also criticized Japan's move.
More than 1,000 people participated in a Seoul marathon to protest at the
Takeshima Day event.
A group of activists staged a protest rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in
Seoul, arguing that the "Takeshima Day" celebrations show Japan's intention to
"invade" Dokdo.
When South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso
had a summit in Seoul last month, they sidestepped the territorial issue to
focus on cooperating on the economic issue and the North Korean problem.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
