During the Russo=Japanese War, Japan committed a horrific crime by
secretly incorporating Dockdo belonging to Korea into its territory,
because of the strategic and military significance of the island. Japan
has a plan to secure its homeland defense line, also the Marine Self
Defense’s route to oil exploitation, linking the Kuril Islands-Sakhalin-
Donghae(Dockdo)-Joeodo(Sengakudai)-Persian Gulf by annexing
Dockdo to its territory.
In addition to its military and strategic value, Dockdo is receiving attention as a new place for people to live in the 21st century.
Dong Hae, the body of water surrounding Dockdo, is known as the East
Sea od Lorea and is a treasure trove of maritime resources. The first
time Dockdo appeared in historic documents was in “Samguksagi”
complied by Kim Busik in the Koryo era. According th the book,
Ulleungdo and Usando (noe Dockdo) comprised an independent
administrative unit. In the 13th year of King Jijeung (512), the Shilla
Kingdom sonquered Usanguk. From that point on, every year,
Usanguk paid tax to the Shilla Kinhdom in the form of local products.
The late 17th century saw first dispute over the territory with Japan. It happened during King Sukjong’s
rule because of the activities of civilian An Yongbok.
The dispute involving Ulleungdo and Dockdo came to
an end with Japan admitting its culpability and sending a letter of
apology to Chosun Dynasty leaders. In that letter the Japanese
government gave up its rights to the territory of Dockdo Island.
In the year 1900 (the 13th year of the King Kojong era), the 4th Decree of the Empire of Corea renamed
Ulleungdo to Uldo and established a new independent administrative unit for Ulleungdo and Dockdo.
However, based on the 1904 Chosun-Japan Protocol, the Navy of Japan
established a military unit on Dockdo. The Shimane prefecture of
Japan, on February 22, 1905, announced that Takeshima (Dockdo)
shall be incorporated into the Shimane prefecture. Japan made this
announcement to the Empire of Corea in April 1906. But with the defeat
of the Empire of Japan, the highest command of the Allied forces
declared Dockdo shall be separated from Japan’s territory and
returned to Korea. (SCAPIN No.677) With the establishment of the
Republic of Korea in the south on August 15, 1948, the government
took steps on January 18 to give Dockdo an official administrative
address. On that date in 1952, Korea announced “the President’s
Declaration on the Sovereignty of the Neighboring Sea”, commonly
known as the Peace Line. Ten days after the announcement Japan sent
a diplomatic letter to Korea saying Dockdo lay within its territory,
contradicting Korea’s claim of ownership.
Fierce disputes through diplomatic letters between the two
governments followed. On addition, the Japanese government landed
officials and young people boarding from its patrol boats on Dockdo on
June 27, June 28, July 1 and July 28 of 1953. These were people kicked
out by the residents of Ulleungdo by forming the ‘Dockdo Volunteer
Guards.’ After that, Japan claimed territorial rights over Dockdo. Since
the late seventies, many Japanese government officials, including the
Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, have declared that
Dockdo is a Japanese territory, causing diplomatic disputes.
In 1996 the declaration of the EEZ (Economically Exclusive Zone) by the
Japanese government provoked another fierce territory dispute over
Dockdo, resulting in the 1998 New Korea-Japan Fishery Agreement.
One of the reasons the Japanese may be so adamant about claiming
Dockdo for its own is because of the discovery od oil and natural gas
bede within 200 kilometers of the EEZ. The New Fishery Agreement
stipulates that 35 nautical miles from Ulleungdo and 35 nautical mile
from Okido are the economically exclusive zones of both Korea and
Japan. The sea surrounding Dockdo which falls in between is included
in ‘middle water.’ After the agreement was issued, some residents in
the Shimane prefecture in Japan changed their census register to
Dockdo, prompting a campaign civic groups. Japan had already known
about the secret of oil and natural gas buried under Dong Hae or the
East Sea od Korea, within Korean territory.
China is also very interested in this territory for the development of energy.
Not only are the tensions
evident between Korea and Japan, there are also growing tensions between
Japan and China as well.
For Korea and Japan, the arguments currently taking place could lead to a
possible war. The Japanese
are very strong in their desire to claim Dockdo’s rich natural resources.
Given their history of
militarism during World War Two, it would not be surprising to see more
activity in that area.
The people of Korea must correct history rewritten by Japan regarding the
ownership of Dockdo Island
Citizens must fulfill their obligation for mandatory military duty in order to
be prepared for the threat
of war. If we have learned anything from history, it would be the tragedy of
losing sovereignty over territory belonging to Korea.
Though we have now mover into the new millenium, some Japanese
government officials are still in the
grip of imperialism. They are still claiming that Dockdo belongs to them. It is
a significant issue that is
causing frictions between the two countries. Some believe this situation
could lead inevitably to Peace
"The Passion and Beauty"of Korean Art
A Historical , Cultural,and Political Perspective
Written by David ,Chang
Published Registration No 2 - 3394 (2004)
Sponsor : galleriajang- Pure_Natural Farm .Green Tea
galleriajang.org
