Japan expresses "extreme regret" over Cho Kuk's visit to Dokdo
A Japanese reporter caused a stir by asking Cho Kuk, leader of the Justice Party, who set sail to visit Dokdo, "Why are you going to Takeshima (竹島, the name Japan claims for Dokdo)?"
On the 13th, Japanese media outlet FNN reported an article titled, "Why are you going to (Japan's inherent) Takeshima? 'Yangpa-nam', directly hit with 'Who are you?' Justice Party leader Cho Kuk sets sail for Takeshima." The nickname 'Yangpa-nam' in the article's title is commonly used by Japanese media for Cho. It refers to the meaning of "more and more suspicions arise," as his daughter Cho Min was involved in an entrance exam scandal, his spouse Jung Kyung-shim, a former professor at Dongyang University, was implicated, and he himself is accused of abuse of power.
On the 13th, Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, visited Dokdo in Ulleung County, Gyeongbuk, holding the Taegeukgi and posing for a commemorative photo. [Image provided by Jo Guk Innovation Party] [Image source: Yonhap News]
The video released on YouTube that day showed an FNN reporter asking Cho, "Hello, leader. Why are you going to Takeshima today?" Cho replied, "Who are you? Who are you... Since this is the first time we are meeting."
Additionally, FNN explained through the video, "Before departure, when the FNN reporter directly addressed the name 'Takeshima' instead of 'Dokdo,' which is what it is called in Korea, there was a scene where he did not answer the question and left."
Meanwhile, Cho visited Dokdo that day and issued a statement criticizing the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's diplomacy with Japan as 'submissive diplomacy.' The statement also included claims of diplomatic failure by the government related to the so-called 'Line Yahoo incident,' recently triggered by administrative guidance from the Japanese government.
The Japanese government expressed regret over Cho's visit to Dokdo. At a press conference that afternoon, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the Japanese government spokesperson, said in response to related questions, "'Takeshima' is clearly Japan's inherent territory both historically and under international law." The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated in a press release that Cho's visit to Dokdo "was carried out despite prior requests to stop," and added, "Considering that it is clearly Japan's inherent territory both historically and under international law, it is absolutely unacceptable and extremely regrettable."
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