竹島問題の歴史

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:

  1. 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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  2. Thanks for the updates, Kaneganese. I have added your most recent update to the post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 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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  4. 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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  5. 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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