ID :
200366
Wed, 08/10/2011 - 11:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/200366
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea vows firm, but measured response to Japan's claim to Dokdo
SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will take a firm, but measured response to counter reinforced Japanese moves to lay claim to Seoul's easternmost islets of Dokdo in the waters between the two nations, a senior official said Wednesday.
The foreign ministry official made the remark in response to a Japanese media report that the Tokyo government was again considering taking the Dokdo issue to the International Court of Justice.
The Sankei Shimbun newspaper reported earlier Wednesday that Japan was weighing the option, which some South Korean officials call a plot to make the Dokdo issue an international dispute.
While taking notice of the report, South Korean officials said the reported Japanese move is unrealistic because Seoul must consent before the issue can be sent to the international court.
"We are checking the report and no proposal on the matter from the Japanese government has been made," the official said on the condition of anonymity.
"Because Dokdo is our territory no matter what happens, there will be no reason for us to respond even if Japan makes an offer," the official said. "We will take a firm, but measured response."
Dokdo, which lies closer to South Korea in the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, has long been a thorn in relations between the two countries.
Diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Japan have recently risen over a renewed Japanese move to strengthen its territorial claim to the rocky islets in the East Sea.
Four lawmakers from Japan's conservative opposition Liberal Democratic Party were banned early last week from traveling to a South Korean island close to Dokdo.
South Korea also summoned a senior Japanese embassy official last week and protested Japan's 2011 defense white paper, which renewed its territorial claim to Dokdo.
Meanwhile, a group of South Korean lawmakers plans to hold a parliamentary committee meeting on Friday on Dokdo, in what would be the first such meeting on the islets.
The foreign ministry official made the remark in response to a Japanese media report that the Tokyo government was again considering taking the Dokdo issue to the International Court of Justice.
The Sankei Shimbun newspaper reported earlier Wednesday that Japan was weighing the option, which some South Korean officials call a plot to make the Dokdo issue an international dispute.
While taking notice of the report, South Korean officials said the reported Japanese move is unrealistic because Seoul must consent before the issue can be sent to the international court.
"We are checking the report and no proposal on the matter from the Japanese government has been made," the official said on the condition of anonymity.
"Because Dokdo is our territory no matter what happens, there will be no reason for us to respond even if Japan makes an offer," the official said. "We will take a firm, but measured response."
Dokdo, which lies closer to South Korea in the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, has long been a thorn in relations between the two countries.
Diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Japan have recently risen over a renewed Japanese move to strengthen its territorial claim to the rocky islets in the East Sea.
Four lawmakers from Japan's conservative opposition Liberal Democratic Party were banned early last week from traveling to a South Korean island close to Dokdo.
South Korea also summoned a senior Japanese embassy official last week and protested Japan's 2011 defense white paper, which renewed its territorial claim to Dokdo.
Meanwhile, a group of South Korean lawmakers plans to hold a parliamentary committee meeting on Friday on Dokdo, in what would be the first such meeting on the islets.
