Police officer missing while on duty on Dokdo

(ATTN: UPDATES with background of Dokdo in last two paras)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean police officer standing guard on the
nation's easternmost islets of Dokdo has gone missing, police said Tuesday.
The unidentified officer was placed on sentry duty at a seaside location of the
East Sea islets early Tuesday morning but later was found to have gone missing,
police said, adding a search operation is now under way.
Police said the search operation is focused on the seaside areas, as the
possibility of the missing officer falling into the sea after losing his footing
cannot be ruled out.
Dokdo, which lies just 90 kilometers east of South Korea's Ulleung Island in the
East Sea, has frequently been the focus of international media coverage, due to
Japan's territorial claim to the rocky outcrops. The closest Japanese territory
of Oki Island in Shimane Prefecture is more than 160 kilometers away from Dokdo.
Since 1954, the South Korean government has stationed a small contingent on Dokdo
as a symbol of its ownership of the rocky islets. Currently, about 50 police
officers who belong to the Ulleung Island Security Force are stationed on Dokdo
for security purposes. The "Dokdo Police Guard" stand guard on the islets 24
hours a day against Japanese patrol boats and other invaders, using advanced
systems and equipment.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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