Japan seeks to bring Dokdo dispute to Int`l Court of Justice

The Japanese government is trying everything to counteract the effects of President Lee Myung-bak’s visit to the disputed Dokdo islets this week.

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan is apparently using the Dokdo incident as a way to recover its disgrace caused by its previously flabby responses to territorial disputes with China over the Senkaku Islands (called Daowidao in China) and with Russia over four Kuril islands that have provoked criticism from opposition parties and right-wing groups.

Against this backdrop, Tokyo has established an agency to deal with territorial issues. The Office of the Cabinet set up a state-run think tank to respond to northern territorial issues starting with the dispute with Russia over four Kuril islands. This is the first time, however, that the Japanese government has set up an agency to tackle territorial conflicts with other countries.

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba sarcastically quoted President Lee’s slogan of "Global Korea" to press Seoul to resolve the Dokdo issue to the International Court of Justice.

Rep. Seiji Maehara, a pro-Korea politician and chairman of the Policy Research Committee, said, “The Korean government should simply claim Dokdo as Korean territory at the International Court of Justice if it`s so sure about its sovereignty over the islets.”

A trial cannot be held by the international court unless both parties agree. Tokyo asked Seoul to bring the case to the court in 1954 and 1962, but Korea said no and added, “Japan simply wants to make a false claim in court. There’s no reason for Korea to be confirmed by the (International Court of Justice) about its sovereignty over Dokdo because Dokdo has always been Korea’s territory throughout history.”

Japan has strategically kept asking Korea to agree to a trial to give the impression that Dokdo is internationally disputed territory.

The Japanese daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun quoted a high-ranking official of the Japanese Foreign Ministry as saying, “If the Japanese government keeps filing a petition with the International Court of Justice, the Korean counterpart cannot help giving official briefings on the matter. This can let the world know that Japan has interest in Dokdo.”

Tokyo is also considering further measures including cancellation of meetings between the heads and high-ranking officials of the two countries. Japan is considering sending a maritime survey vessel to the Dokdo area as the Koizumi administration did in 2006.

Critics cite unnecessary strain in relations between the two countries. They say the Korea-U.S.-Japan alliance is inevitable against China’s expanding power and North Korea’s nuclear threat.

Japanese Foreign Minister Gemba showed a careful approach on the suspension of the shuttle diplomacy between Seoul and Tokyo by saying, “Territorial issues shall be solved at the territorial level.”

The Japanese government is expected to decide on more options after President Lee’s speech Wednesday marking Liberation Day, when Korea was freed from Japanese colonial rule in 1945.

bae2150@donga.com