ID :
199301
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 11:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/199301
The shortlink copeid
Foreign minister upholds president's visit to Dokdo
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said Friday that he has no reason to oppose President Lee Myung-bak's visit to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, though such a decision needs to be made in consideration of various factors.
Kim made the remarks in a radio interview when asked whether President Lee has any plan to visit the rocky outcroppings in the East Sea in light of recent diplomatic tensions over conservative Japanese lawmakers' failed attempts to visit Ulleung, an island 90 kilometers from Dokdo, and Tokyo's approval of its 2011 defense white paper referring to Dokdo as its territory.
"I don't think there is any problem with our president making a visit to our territory. I think the matter will be decided considering various factors, such as his schedule and weather conditions on Dokdo," Kim said. "The president is well aware of various proposals. Let's see how the situation unfolds."
Asked what will happen if conservative Japanese lawmakers try to enter South Korea again in the future, Kim remained firm against their entry, saying, "If they attempt to visit the nation in the same way for their political purposes, our response will be the same."
As for ways to more effectively control the East Sea islets, Kim noted that the government plans to improve security facilities for the Coast Guard, which has been stationed there since 1954 as a symbol of Korea's ownership.
Regarding some Japanese lawmakers' protest against a parliamentary committee's planned meeting on Dokdo, the minister said he respects the legislative body's decision to have the meeting on the Korean territory.
The meeting, slated for next Friday and which will be the first to be held there in Korean history, plans to discuss Tokyo's temporary boycott on Korean Air over the airline's test flights over Dokdo and this year's defense white paper, committee members said. At the end of the meeting, the committee will adopt a resolution condemning Tokyo's repeated claims to the Korean territory, they noted.
SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said Friday that he has no reason to oppose President Lee Myung-bak's visit to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, though such a decision needs to be made in consideration of various factors.
Kim made the remarks in a radio interview when asked whether President Lee has any plan to visit the rocky outcroppings in the East Sea in light of recent diplomatic tensions over conservative Japanese lawmakers' failed attempts to visit Ulleung, an island 90 kilometers from Dokdo, and Tokyo's approval of its 2011 defense white paper referring to Dokdo as its territory.
"I don't think there is any problem with our president making a visit to our territory. I think the matter will be decided considering various factors, such as his schedule and weather conditions on Dokdo," Kim said. "The president is well aware of various proposals. Let's see how the situation unfolds."
Asked what will happen if conservative Japanese lawmakers try to enter South Korea again in the future, Kim remained firm against their entry, saying, "If they attempt to visit the nation in the same way for their political purposes, our response will be the same."
As for ways to more effectively control the East Sea islets, Kim noted that the government plans to improve security facilities for the Coast Guard, which has been stationed there since 1954 as a symbol of Korea's ownership.
Regarding some Japanese lawmakers' protest against a parliamentary committee's planned meeting on Dokdo, the minister said he respects the legislative body's decision to have the meeting on the Korean territory.
The meeting, slated for next Friday and which will be the first to be held there in Korean history, plans to discuss Tokyo's temporary boycott on Korean Air over the airline's test flights over Dokdo and this year's defense white paper, committee members said. At the end of the meeting, the committee will adopt a resolution condemning Tokyo's repeated claims to the Korean territory, they noted.
