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The Japanese Cabinet on Friday said Korea is occupying Dokdo in a statement likely to further strain diplomatic relations with Korea. The pronouncement comes as officials from the two countries are set to restart negotiations over their maritime borders.
The Japanese Cabinet issued a formal document on Friday that claims Korea is "illegally occupying" the islets Japan calls Takeshima. The letter comes in response to a Japanese lawmaker's question and says the Cabinet believes Japan established its sovereignty over the islets by the mid-17th century. It says that in 1905, the Japanese Cabinet decided to incorporate the disputed territory into Shimane Prefecture and Japan has practically ruled the islets since.
It says Tokyo since 1954 has on several occasions lodged complaints with its Korean counterpart for illegally occupying the islets. The Cabinet claims there is a territorial dispute between the two neighbors. Tokyo says it seek a peaceful solution but maintain its position on the matter.
Seoul on Friday immediately denounced the document. Foreign Ministry spokesman Choo Kyu-ho said in a commentary Seoul cannot accept Japan's claims. He said Tokyo must admit that the Korean islets were forcibly seized by Japan during its colonial rule over Korea.
Arirang News
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