ID :
197549
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 12:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/197549
The shortlink copeid
Japanese lawmakers should withdraw plan to visit Ulleung Island
(Yonhap Editorial) SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government plans to exert diplomatic efforts to make the Japanese government persuade four Japanese opposition lawmakers to voluntarily cancel their plans to visit South Korea's Ulleung Island next week.
Four lawmakers of Japan's opposition Liberal Democratic Party said last week they will visit Ulleung Island near Dokdo in early August in an apparent attempt to bolster its territorial claims over the islets in the East Sea between the two countries.
The planned trip sparked outrage in South Korea, with the ruling party chief and other lawmakers calling for the government to ban their entry into the country. There have also been concerns that the Japanese lawmakers could be targeted by angry civic groups.
President Lee Myung-bak has expressed concern that the safety of four Japanese lawmakers could be at risk if they press ahead with a trip here seen as an attempt to bolster Tokyo's claims to South Korea's easternmost island of Dokdo, an official said Wednesday. Lee also instructed officials Wednesday to convey such concerns to Tokyo and try to talk out the issue, presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha told reporters.
We hope the Japanese lawmakers will voluntarily call off their plan and the Japanese government can persuade their lawmakers.
In case the Japanese politicians press ahead of their plan in defiance of our heartfelt concerns, they may be denied entry at the airport and have to return to Japan.
The government has concluded that there is no problem in banning them from entering South Korea. Under Korea's immigration law, the justice minister is authorized to ban the entry of certain people who are expected to hurt the national interest or security of the public. "If the diplomatic efforts fail and the Japanese lawmakers arrive at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea will have no choice but to slap an entry ban on them," a foreign ministry official said.
It is clear why the extreme rightist Japanese politicians want to try to visit the South Korean island. They want to make their claims to Dokdo into an international issue by arousing the repercussion of South Korean people. They may intend to incite a physical confrontation with South Korean protesters that will be covered by international news media.
The childish scheme of the Japanese lawmakers runs counter to the recent friendly gestures of the Japanese government in which Japanese Prime Minister Kan Naoto acknowledged Japan's forcible annexation of Korea against the Korean people's will a century ago and Tokyo agreed to return some looted Korean cultural assets.
The Japanese politicians' move is also a provocative act against the South Korean government and people who offered helping hands to the Japanese people in the aftermath of the terrible earthquakes in March.
The Japanese government and its people should stop the extreme rightist lawmakers' reckless plan to help build future South Korea-Japan relations. We expect wise action from the Japanese government and politicians.
Four lawmakers of Japan's opposition Liberal Democratic Party said last week they will visit Ulleung Island near Dokdo in early August in an apparent attempt to bolster its territorial claims over the islets in the East Sea between the two countries.
The planned trip sparked outrage in South Korea, with the ruling party chief and other lawmakers calling for the government to ban their entry into the country. There have also been concerns that the Japanese lawmakers could be targeted by angry civic groups.
President Lee Myung-bak has expressed concern that the safety of four Japanese lawmakers could be at risk if they press ahead with a trip here seen as an attempt to bolster Tokyo's claims to South Korea's easternmost island of Dokdo, an official said Wednesday. Lee also instructed officials Wednesday to convey such concerns to Tokyo and try to talk out the issue, presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha told reporters.
We hope the Japanese lawmakers will voluntarily call off their plan and the Japanese government can persuade their lawmakers.
In case the Japanese politicians press ahead of their plan in defiance of our heartfelt concerns, they may be denied entry at the airport and have to return to Japan.
The government has concluded that there is no problem in banning them from entering South Korea. Under Korea's immigration law, the justice minister is authorized to ban the entry of certain people who are expected to hurt the national interest or security of the public. "If the diplomatic efforts fail and the Japanese lawmakers arrive at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea will have no choice but to slap an entry ban on them," a foreign ministry official said.
It is clear why the extreme rightist Japanese politicians want to try to visit the South Korean island. They want to make their claims to Dokdo into an international issue by arousing the repercussion of South Korean people. They may intend to incite a physical confrontation with South Korean protesters that will be covered by international news media.
The childish scheme of the Japanese lawmakers runs counter to the recent friendly gestures of the Japanese government in which Japanese Prime Minister Kan Naoto acknowledged Japan's forcible annexation of Korea against the Korean people's will a century ago and Tokyo agreed to return some looted Korean cultural assets.
The Japanese politicians' move is also a provocative act against the South Korean government and people who offered helping hands to the Japanese people in the aftermath of the terrible earthquakes in March.
The Japanese government and its people should stop the extreme rightist lawmakers' reckless plan to help build future South Korea-Japan relations. We expect wise action from the Japanese government and politicians.
