Korea Vows to Stop Japanese Incursion Near Dokdo Japanese Provocations Over Dokdo Intensify Tensions Run High Over Japan’s Dokdo Research Trip Calls to Abandon Silent Treatment of Japan Grow Louder Two Koreas May Discuss Japan’s Dokdo Incursion Japanese Nomenclature Encroaches on Korean Waters Dokdo Bound Research Vessel Departs Tokyo Harbor A Call to Diplomatic Arms Mystery Japanese Ships Strike Out Japan Calls Off Dogs in Dokdo Dispute Japanese Minister’s Visit Over Dokdo Crisis Inconclusive Ministry of Education Steps Up Dokdo Education Korea-Japan Compromise Ends Dokdo Standoff Korea ‘Will Push Ahead With Naming Dokdo Seafloor’ Korea to Explain Dokdo Problem to Int’l Community President Roh Draws Dokdo Map for Kofi Annan Korea Resumes Project to Name Seabed Near Dokdo Fine Words From the President -- Again Much Fighting Talks and a Disappointing Result

Japan is refusing to recognize Korea’s EEZ and trying to damage Korean sovereignty over Dokdo. The strategy is to give the impression that Dokdo is an internationally disputed area and then bring the case to the International Court of Justice.

Last year, Japan's Shimane Prefecture designated Feb. 22 “Takeshima Day” after the Japanese name for Dokdo. Last month, the country’s Education Ministry gave a directive that textbooks must clearly identify the islets as Japanese territory. Taken together, these steps suggest that Japan has at last come up with a cohesive plan to take sovereignty over Dokdo.

Only 130 years ago, Japan sent a vessel close to Ganghwa Island in the Yellow Sea in the name of measuring the area and meeting with officials from the Chosun kingdom. Now it is sending a ship near Dokdo. Perhaps next time it would like to land on the islets to study their geological features.

President Roh Moo-hyun, around this time last year, vowed to put an end to Japan’s hegemonic ambitions. Since then, the only measure the government has taken was to cancel all further bilateral summits. That Tokyo continues with its stealth campaign to take the islets suggests the absence of a summit is causing no great inconvenience or regret there.

The U.S. has usually offered opportunities to resolve such disputes behind the scenes whenever South Korea and Japan became mired in them. Not this time. Because the bilateral alliance between Korea and the U.S. is shaky, the cooperative framework among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan has collapsed. The public must wonder what action Seoul has in mind as Japan carries on its campaign to seize Dokdo.