South Korean Government Calls Japan's Actions "Futile Provocation"
Japan Promotes 'Dokdo Sovereignty Claim' in 11 Languages
Seo Kyung-duk and Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk, Condemn
North Korea Publishes Paper Calling "Japan's Dokdo Seizure a Modern Colonial Theft"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Japan has been repeating the 'Takeshima Day' event for the 16th year, claiming Dokdo as their territory. In response, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed it as a "pointless provocation against Dokdo."
On the morning of the 22nd, the Japanese government reiterated its claim that Dokdo is Japanese territory at the 'Takeshima (竹島, the name Japan claims for Dokdo) Day' commemorative event hosted by a local government.
According to Sankei Shimbun and Kyodo News, Japanese government spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu stated at the regular briefing that "Takeshima is clearly Japan's inherent territory historically, factually, and under international law."
On the same day, Kato said, "Under the determination to firmly protect Japan's territory, territorial waters, and airspace, we will respond calmly and resolutely to the Korean side," adding, "It is important to gain the correct understanding of the international community."
He also added that Japan is strengthening information dissemination through Japanese embassies worldwide and dispatching domestic intellectuals abroad to resolve the Dokdo issue.
In the afternoon of the same day, a 'Takeshima Day' commemorative event asserting sovereignty over Dokdo was held in Shimane Prefecture with the dispatch of a senior government official.
Shimane Prefecture has designated February 22 every year as 'Takeshima Day' and has held commemorative events.
At the event, Wada Yoshiaki (和田義明), a political official from the Cabinet Office, claimed Dokdo as Japanese territory and stated, "Japan has requested Korea to resolve the issue based on international law and has proposed several times to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), but Korea continues to refuse."
Wada, who is in charge of territorial issues at the Cabinet Office, said, "Resolving the Takeshima issue is an important matter concerning sovereignty. Korea's occupation is illegal and unacceptable," adding, "Japan wishes to resolve the dispute calmly and peacefully according to international law."
He also mentioned that the Twitter account asserting Japan's sovereignty over Dokdo is gaining followers and that related websites are being updated to strengthen publicity.
Wada further stated that traveling exhibitions asserting Japan's claim over Dokdo have been held in Hiroshima City and Matsue City, and will be held in various locations nationwide, including Nagasaki City.
He introduced that the 'Territory and Sovereignty Exhibition Hall,' established by the Japanese government to assert sovereignty over Dokdo, has had over 15,000 visitors.
In fact, Japan is expanding its publicity efforts to enforce its claim that Dokdo is its territory.
Japan has already produced and distributed claims over Dokdo in 11 languages, and continues to disseminate such content through various channels.
Since February 2013, shortly after the launch of the second Abe Shinzo administration, Japan has dispatched political officials to the Takeshima Day event for nine consecutive years.
South Korea dismissed these actions by Japan. A spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs called it a "pointless provocation against Dokdo."
Japanese media also pointed out that it is difficult for the authorities' demands to be realized.
However, Japan's moves to claim sovereignty over Dokdo are interpreted as an attempt to make the international community recognize Dokdo as a disputed territory. It is speculated that the intention is to repeatedly assert the claim to create sympathizers.
In this regard, on the same day, Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University announced via SNS that he sent a protest email to Maruyama Tatsuya, Governor of Shimane Prefecture.
In the protest email, he stated, "Holding the event for 16 years does not make Dokdo Japanese territory. Historically, geographically, and under international law, Dokdo is clearly South Korean territory," and urged, "Since it seems that the truth about Dokdo is not well known, I have attached Japanese materials. Please review them carefully and abolish the Takeshima Day event."
Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, also issued a statement on the same day demanding a sincere apology for Japan's unrepentant historical distortion that has continued for 16 years and called for the immediate cessation of provocative acts that damage Korea-Japan relations.
On the same day, a thesis condemning Japan's claim to Dokdo sovereignty also drew attention at a North Korean university.
The thesis titled "The Reactionary Nature of Japan's Ambition to Seize Dokdo," posted on the Kim Il-sung Broadcasting University website, claimed that Japan's sovereignty claim is "an extension of the seizure of Dokdo, which was part of the invasion attempts against Joseon in the early 20th century," and described it as "an absolutely unacceptable modern colonial seizure theory, the most vicious and reactionary invasion theory."
The South Korean government plans to raise the level of response to Japan's repeated attempts at historical distortion.
On the 23rd, Kim Young-ho, the ruling party's spokesperson on the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, said, "(The insistence on Takeshima Day) is an issue that should be immediately addressed by the Foreign Affairs Committee," and added, "We will prepare countermeasures, including considering the proposal of a resolution at the standing committee level." The resolution is expected to include calls for Japan to revoke the designation of 'Takeshima Day' and to stop historical distortion.
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