Dokdo-or-Takeshima?: "Korea to Send Back Noda's Letter Claiming It Violated Protocol

24.8.12

"Korea to Send Back Noda's Letter Claiming It Violated Protocol

The Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported HERE that Korea would return the undelivered letter Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda wrote to Korean President Lee Myung-bak protesting his visit to Liancourt Rocks. The reason given for returning the letter was that it violated diplomatic protocol since its contents had been announced in advance. Korea also claimed the letter was inaccurate since it referred to the Rocks by the Japanese name instead of the Korean.

According to an article in the the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun HERE, Korean embassy officials trying to return the letter were turned away at the gate of the Japanese Foreign Ministry because they had not made an official appointment.

UPDATE: Jiji Press - "Japan Refuses to Accept Takeshima Letter Returned by Seoul"

Seoul, Aug. 23 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Foreign Ministry refused to accept a letter Thursday that was sent by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to South Korean President Lee Myung Bak but returned.

An official at the South Korean embassy in Tokyo visited the ministry to return the letter, but the ministry refused to meet the official.

Following this, the South Korean embassy sent the letter back by registered mail.
Due to the unusual diplomatic spat, the bilateral relationship looks certain to deteriorate further.

In the letter, sent Friday, Noda criticized Lee's unprecedented visit to the Sea of Japan islands of Takeshima, controlled by South Korea, on Aug. 10 and expressed regret over Lee's remarks on seeking an apology from Emperor Akihito for Japan's past colonial rule.

UPDATE 2: Dialy Yomiuri Online gives more detail HERE on the Korean President's refusing to receive the Japanese Prime Minister's letter, including the following quotes:

According to the Yonhap news agency, a senior official of the South Korean presidential office said, "It makes no sense to reply to comments that are not true."
The news agency quoted a South Korean government source as saying: "Even if our response [to Japan] is seen as diplomatically rude, there is no reason to change our principles on this matter. If we see this issue from the other side, Japan also has gone against diplomatic protocol in sending [Noda's] personal letter."
Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura expressed concern over the issue. "Regarding diplomatic protocol, I can't think of a letter sent from a national leader to another leader being returned," he said at a press conference Thursday morning.
A senior Foreign Ministry official said, "The fact that South Korea has decided to take an unusual step in response [to Noda's letter] may prove that the nation is shocked by Japan's objections [to Lee's remarks and actions]."

5 comments:

Kaneganese24/8/12 02:43
And the South Korean embassy sent the letter back by registered mail !! Even late Kim Jong-il didn't do such a absurd reaction...

Jiji press;

"Seoul, Aug. 23 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Foreign Ministry refused to accept a letter Thursday that was sent by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to South Korean President Lee Myung Bak but returned.
An official at the South Korean embassy in Tokyo visited the ministry to return the letter, but the ministry refused to meet the official.
Following this, the South Korean embassy sent the letter back by registered mail.
Due to the unusual diplomatic spat, the bilateral relationship looks certain to deteriorate further.
In the letter, sent Friday, Noda criticized Lee's unprecedented visit to the Sea of Japan islands of Takeshima, controlled by South Korea, on Aug. 10 and expressed regret over Lee's remarks on seeking an apology from Emperor Akihito for Japan's past colonial rule. "

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012082300875
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Gerry Bevers24/8/12 02:52
Thanks for the updates, Kaneganese. I have added your most recent update to the post.
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小嶋日向守24/8/12 16:25
皆さん
山本香苗議員が本日(2012年8月24日)参議院予算委員会で言及した「国連海洋法条約に基づく強制調停」に関して、皆さんの考え方をお聞かせ願います。

法政大学非常勤講師の小谷哲男さんの意見
http://wedge.ismedia.jp/articles/-/2143?page=4
以下引用

国連海洋法条約に基づく強制調停を
　それでも方法はある。それは国連海洋法条約に基づく紛争処理である。同条約では、境界画定に関して紛争当事国の一方の申し立てにより、仲裁裁判所での強制調停に持ち込むことが可能だ。

　問題は、韓国が1996年にこの強制調停を受け入れないと宣言していることだが、国連海洋法条約が発効した1994年以降の紛争処理に関しては強制調停を逃れることはできない。竹島問題は1952年の李承晩ラインを起源とするが、日韓の漁業協定は1999年発効である。つまり、この漁業協定に関する強制調停ならば可能となる。日本政府は韓国が漁業協定を遵守せず、暫定水域を占拠し、竹島周辺の海域に近づく日本漁船を排除していることを協定違反として提訴することを検討すべきだ。

　領有権そのものについてはこの強制調停という方法は使えないが、韓国が竹島周辺海域から日本船を排除することが協定違反と認められれば、韓国の竹島領有も否定されることになろう。

　ただし、間違っても日本側から対話を拒絶するようなことはあってはならない。日韓シャトル外交の停止などは愚の骨頂である。意見が違うときほど、緊張が高まっているときほど、国家の指導者は話し合うべきである。

--------------------------
(引用に支障が有れば削除します)
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sloww24/8/12 21:13
Did the Japanese government give the Korean government the reason why she made contents of Japanese Prime Minister's letter public before delivering to Korean President? I read somewhere the reason is likely to be the upcoming election in Japan.

By the way, a senior Foreign Ministry official's statement "The fact that South Korea has decided to take an unusual step in response [to Noda's letter] may prove that the nation is shocked by Japan's objections [to Lee's remarks and actions]." is a wrong guess.
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jjoanpark26/8/12 10:23

Japanese government's absurd behaviors

1. Japanee government made Japanese Prime Minister's letter open to the public before it reached to the Korean President.

2.Japanese foreign ministry didn't even open the gate to the South Korean diplomats who tried to deliver a protest letter.

Who did the absurd thing first?
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NE Shore of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島 - 울릉도)

This satellite photo shows Ulleungdo's neighboring islands of Gwaneumdo (觀音島) and Jukdo (竹島) off Ulleungdo's east shore. Gwaneumdo is only about 100 meters offshore and looks more like a cape than an island. Jukdo is about 2 km offshore. The old Korean name for Jukdo was "Usando" (于山島), as many of Korea's old maps show. Koreans claim that Usando was Korea's old name for "Dokdo" (Liancourt Rocks), but they have no documents or maps to prove it. Also, Liancourt Rocks is about ninety-two kilometers southeast of Ulleungdo and are essentially two islands, but all of Korea's old maps show it as one island just off shore of Ulleungdo.

"Cheonggudo" (靑邱圖) Atlas (1860 - 1872)

This Korean map of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島 - 울릉도) showed it with a small island off its eastern shore labeled as "Usan" (于山). Hash marks at the bottom of the map showed that Usan was less than 4 km off Ulleungdo's east shore. That would mean that it would be Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo, which is about 2.2 km off Ulleungdo's east shore. Koreans claim that Usando was the old name for Dokdo (Liancourt Rocks), but Dokdo is 92 km southeast of Ulleungdo and is essentially two islands, not one. The map is stored in the National Library of Korea.

"Cheonggudo" (靑邱圖) Atlas (1834)

This Korean map of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島 - 울릉도) showed Usan (于山 - 우산) as a neighboring island just off Ulleungdo's east shore. The hash marks at the bottom of the map showed the island to be about 4 km offshore. Usando was the old Korean name for Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo, which is about 2.2 km of Ulleungdo's east shore. Koreans claim that Usando was the old Korean name for "Dokdo" (Liancourt Rocks), which is 92 km southeast of Ulleungdo, but this map and many others prove that claim false. The map is stored in Seoul National University's Kyujanggak Center for Korean Studies.

"Dong Yeodo" (東輿圖) Atlas (1795 - 1800)

This map showed Ulleungdo (鬱陵島 - 울릉도) with a neighboring island labeled as "Usan" (于山 - 우산). Usando (于山島) was the old Korean name for Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島 - 죽도), which is about 2.2 km off Ulleungdo's east shore. Koreans claim that Usando was the old name for "Dokdo" (Liancourt Rocks), which is 92 km southeast of Ulleungdo, but this map and many others prove that claim wrong. The map is stored in Japan's "University of Tsukuba Library" (筑波大学附属図書館).

"Joseon-do" (朝鮮圖) - 1800 - 1822

This map of Ullelungdo (鬱陵島) is from the Korean atlas "Joseon-do" (朝鮮圖), which is believed to have been made sometime between 1800 and 1822. Ulleungdo is shown with a neighboring island labeled as Usan (于山). Koreans claim that Usando (于山島) was the old Korean name for Dokdo (Liancourt Rocks), but this map and many others show that it was Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島), which is Ulleungdo's largest neighboring island and only two kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore. The map is stored in the Osaka Nakanoshima Library (中之島圖書館).

"Gwandong Bangyeo" (關東方輿) - late 1800s?)

This map of Ulleungdo comes from an atlas entitled "Gwandong Bangyeo" (關東方輿), which was probably made in the late 1800s since the map is very similarly to another map of Ulleungdo that was made between 1884 and 1894. The mapmaker used gridlines to help show relative size and distance. The map shows Ulleungdo with a small island off its east shore labeled as "Usan" (于山), which was the old Korean name for Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島 - 죽도). Jukdo is Ulleungdo's largest neighoring island and is about two kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore. Koreans claim that Usando was the old Korean name for "Dokdo" (Liancourt Rocks), but they have no maps or documents to prove it. The map is stored in the Korean National Library.

"Joseon Jido" (朝鮮地圖) Atlas (1750 - 1768)

This Korean map of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島 - 울릉도) showed "Usan" (于山 - 우산) as a neighboring island. The grid lines on the map helped show the small island's relative distance from Ulleungdo. Usando (于山島 - 우산도) was the old Korean name for Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島 - 죽도), which is about 2.2 km off Ulleungdo's east shore. Korean's claim that Usando was the old name for "Dokdo" (Liancourt Rocks), but this map and many others prove that claim false.

Inspector's Map of Ulleungdo (1711)

The map is an inspector's map that showed Ulleungdo with an island off its east shore labeled as "the so-called Usando" (所謂于山島). The small island was also labeled as having "fields of haejang bamboo" (海長竹田). Koreans claim that Usando was Dokdo (Liancourt Rocks), but this map shows that it could not have been Dokdo since Dokdo is just rocks without the soil to grow haejang bamboo. Also, Usando was shown as a neighboring island of Ulleungdo, but Dokdo is 92 km southeast of Ulleungdo. Stored in Seoul Nat'l University's Kyujanggak Institute of Korean Studies.

"Haejwa Jeondo" (海左全圖) - mid 1800s

This old Korean map showed Ulleungdo (鬱陵島 - 울릉도) with a small neighboring island just off its east shore labeled as "Usan" (于山 - 우산). Koreans claim that Usando (于山島 - 우산도) was the old name for Dokdo (Liancourt Rocks), but this map is evidence against the Korean claim. Liancourt Rocks is essentially two islands 92 kilometers southeast of Ulleungdo, but the Usan on this map is just off Ulleungdo's east shore and is only one island. In fact, Usando was the old name for Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島 - 죽도), which is only two kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore.

Carte de la Coree (1846)

This map was made iin 1846 by Kim Dae-geon (金大建), who was Korea's first Catholic priest. He made this map for the benefit of the French priest he works with. He was killed by the Joseon government the same year this map was made. The map shows Ulleungdo labeled in French as "Oulangto" and its neighboring island of Usando labeled as "Ousan." Koreans claim that Usando (于山島 - 우산도) was the old name for Dokdo (Liancourt Rock), but this map shows Usando as one island just of the east shore of Ulleungdo. That tells us that Usando was almost certainly Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島 - 죽도), which is only 2 kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore. Also, this island could not have been Liancourt Rocks since Liancourt Rocks is essentially two islands not one. The original of this map is stored in the National Library of France.

Joseon Jeondo (朝鮮全圖) from the "Gakdo Jido" (各道地圖) Atlas (latter 18th c.)

This old Korean map showed an island labeled as "Usando" (于山島 - 우산도) just off the east shore of Ulleundo (鬱陵島 - 울릉도). Koreans claim that Usando was the old name for Dokdo (Liancourt Rocks), but this map is more evidence against that claim. Liancourt Rocks is essentially two islands ninety-two kilometers southeast of Ulleungdo, but this map shows Usando as one island just off Ulleungdo's east shore. Usando was, in fact, the old name for Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島 - 죽도), which is about two kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore. This map is stored in Korea's Yeongnam University Museum.

"Joseon Jido" (朝鮮地圖) Atlas (1898)

"Donggyeong San Cheon - Paldo Jido (東京山川八道地圖) Atlas (date unknown)

"Jeongukdo" (全國圖) from the "Dongguk Daecheondo" (東國大全圖) - 1740

This old Korean map shows Ulleungdo (鬱陵島 - 울릉도) with a small neighboring island just off its east shore labeled as "Usando" (于山島 - 우산도). Koreans claim that Usando was the old name for Dokdo, but this map is evidence against that claim. Liancourt Rocks is essentially two islands ninety-two kilometers southeast of Ulleungdo, but the Usando on this map is one island just off the east shore of Ulleungdo. Usando was, in fact, the old name for Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島 - 죽도), which is about two kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore. This map is stored in the Korean National Museum.

竹島問題の歴史

24.8.12

"Korea to Send Back Noda's Letter Claiming It Violated Protocol

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