Foreign Ministry Cut Out of Korea-Japan Dispute? Let-It-All-Hang-Out Diplomacy Tokyo Governor Slams Roh's '3rd Rate Politicking'

Avoiding direct mention of Roh's comments, Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro told a press conference that even if there were issues of conflict, other nations knew that the Japanese government and people had the wisdom and skills to overcome them. Reiterating language from earlier government statements responding to Korean anger, he said Tokyo and Seoul were unwavering in their commitment to developing a friendly, cooperative relationship in a future-oriented manner.

Japanese government spokesman Chief Cabinet Secretary Hosoda Hiroyuki said Roh's letter was meant for domestic consumption. Seoul and Tokyo will exchange views, he added.

But in an afternoon press conference he said Japan had for some time been considering bringing the Dokdo issue before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), even though the court required the agreement of both parties before it can act. He said no decision had been made in a matter Japan would need to think about, but referring the question to the ICJ was one option.

Hosoda said afterwards, however, that referring the matter to the ICJ without the agreement of both parties would be like a "pie in the sky."

A diplomatic source in Tokyo said it appeared that Japanese high officials were making repeated statements about referring the disagreement over the Dokdo islets to the ICJ in response to President Roh's slamming on Wednesday of Japan's "justification of its past invasions and denial of Korea's liberation" through Shimane Prefecture's passing of its "Takeshima Day" ordinance.

But the Nikkei Shimbun reported Thursday that some Japanese government officials said the letter revealed President Roh's weak point, namely that he is easily swayed by public opinion. It added Roh's emotional language was "just like North Korea." One Japanese Foreign Ministry official said he was "dumbfounded" by the president's letter, and that it would be best to avoid a point-by-point response to it.

Some Japanese politicians were furious. In a morning joint session of the Liberal Democratic Party's committee on foreign relations, some called for Japan to issue a strong message of its own. Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Nishimura Shingo said Roh's letter was tantamount to "ditching the Korea-Japan relationship."

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon told the Foreign Policy Advisory Committee that Roh's statements represented the government's "strategic mind." He said the government would respond firmly but calmly to Japan. The government is discussing with various related ministries what diplomatic measures to take based on the president's message.

Asked about controversial remarks by the president that indicate Seoul is reconsidering the three-way alliance with the U.S. and Japan, Ban said the foreign policy of the Roh Administration was to secure "independent defense" capabilities anchored in the Korea-U.S. alliance. It aimed to transform the security structure in East Asia from a Cold-War standoff to one of peace and mutual benefit, Ban added.

(englishnews@chosun.com )