Japanese upper house adopts resolution to demand Seoul stop occupation of islets


Diplomatic tension between Korea and Japan was further aggravated on Wednesday as Japanese lawmakers called on Seoul to stop its occupation of the Dokdo islets and their government moves to utilize the Internet to assert its sovereignty over them.

The upper house of Japan’s bicameral legislature decided to adopt a resolution requesting that Korea should withdraw the occupation, calling it “illegal.”

Referring to the so-called Syngman Rhee line that demarcated the areas of Korean sovereignty including Dokdo in 1952, the resolution said, “It was the line drawn unilaterally against the international law and unilaterally asserts its fishery jurisdiction.”

The resolution came after the lower house adopted a resolution last Friday that condemned President Lee Myung-bak for his Aug. 10 visit to the islets and his call for Emperor Akihito’s apology for the archipelago state’s colonial atrocities.

Taking another provocative step, the Tokyo government plans to promote its sovereignty over Dokdo in the East Sea, which it calls Takeshima.

According to Kyodo News, Japan’s Foreign Ministry has decided to post photos, pictures and video clips to promote its territorial claim to the international community. It is also expected to use social networking services to circulate its claim and gain international support.

The news agency said that Tokyo had refrained from resorting to this aggressive media blitz to assert its sovereignty over Dokdo not to strain ties with Seoul, but its stance has changed since Lee’s unprecedented visit to the islets.

Japan incorporated the islets as part of its territory in 1905 before colonizing the entire peninsula. Korea has been in effective control of them since its liberation in 1945.

The row over Dokdo is expected to be further ratcheted up as Seoul plans to deliver a diplomatic note as early as on Thursday, which rebuts Japan’s proposal to bring the Dokdo case to the international court.

In the document, Seoul is expected to reiterate that Dokdo is not the subject of a dispute, and that it is legally, historically and geographically Korea’s territory.

Seoul’s biannual defense drill for Dokdo is also scheduled for next month. The four-day exercise, which has been carried out since 1996, is set to begin on Sept. 7.

Public outrage has continued to heighten this week as high-profile Japanese officials make remarks denying its colonial atrocities ahead of crucial parliamentary polls expected as early as in October.

On Monday, Jin Matsubara, chairman of Japan’s National Public Safety Commission, raised the need for a review among cabinet members over whether to withdraw the 1993 apologetic statement by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono.

In the landmark statement, Kono expressed “sincere apologies and remorse” for the sufferings of the wartime sex slaves, euphemistically called “comfort women.” Japanese Prime Minister Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda claimed that there was no evidence that Japan forcibly mobilized Korean women for sexual enslavement during World War II.

The comfort women issue is the one of the thorniest. Lee has highlighted its urgency as most of the victims have died. The current number of survivors stands at 60, according to government data.

Lee said during his Liberation Day address that the issue is a broader human rights issue that goes beyond the bilateral relationship, calling for Japan’s sincere attitude in recognizing its past.

Experts say that the conservative tide in Japan is expected to continue ahead of possible legislative elections expected to be held as early as in October.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated that he would reverse all of Tokyo’s past statements containing apologetic remarks should his party win the elections and he be elected as prime minister.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)