"Send the Self-Defense Forces to Recapture Takeshima"... Japanese Far-Right Rowing Toward Martial Law Crisis

Korean Martial Law Situation Seen as an 'Opportunity' by Japanese Far-Right Forces
"Japan Should Deploy Self-Defense Forces to Takeshima When Korea Is in Turmoil"

Japanese far-right political activist Hashimoto Koto, who made outrageous remarks about Dokdo. Hashimoto Koto Instagram

Amid global attention on South Korea's political situation following President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law, it has been reported that some far-right figures in Japan are claiming that "now is the opportunity to reclaim Takeshima (竹島, the name Japan uses for Dokdo)."

On the day after President Yoon declared martial law, April 4, Takashi Nagao, a former member of Japan's House of Representatives, stated on his X (formerly Twitter), "The lifting of South Korea's martial law was, in a sense, an opportunity to reclaim Takeshima. From now on, preparations need to be made." Hashimoto Koto, a far-right political activist, also posted on the same day, "When South Korea is in chaos, the Ishiba administration should dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to Takeshima! There is no problem with domestic exercises!"

Former member of the Japanese House of Representatives Takashi Nagao (top) and right-wing political activist famous for his remarks on Dokdo, Hashimoto Koto. X (formerly Twitter)

Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University shared this information on his Instagram on the 9th, stating, "The absurd claim that South Korea's martial law situation should be used as an opportunity to annex Dokdo as Japanese territory is simply outrageous," and added, "The Japanese far-right forces trying to manipulate domestic public opinion by exploiting another country's turmoil need to start with basic decency." Professor Seo emphasized, "In times of national crisis like this, our citizens and the Coast Guard must pay greater attention to Dokdo," explaining, "Because Dokdo is clearly South Korean territory historically, geographically, and under international law."

On the 7th, the National Assembly held a vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol in a plenary session, but it failed due to insufficient quorum, with only 195 out of 300 members participating. For the impeachment to pass, two-thirds of the total members, 200, needed to vote in favor. The vote included 192 members from the opposition parties including the Democratic Party of Korea, and three members from the People Power Party?Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Sang-wook, and Kim Ye-ji. The remaining 105 members of the People Power Party did not participate in the vote.