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The Japanese government methodically planned its attempted sea survey mission in Korea's territorial waters last month, which nearly turned into a diplomatic crisis, a Japanese daily says. It quotes a source as saying Tokyo's attempt to send survey ships into Korean waters last month was sanctioned by senior government figures.
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Tuesday that Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Aso each gave their final seal of approval to Japan's coast guard to conduct ocean research near the waters of Korea¡¯s Dokdo islets. Japan still claims sovereignty over the East Sea territory, which it calls Takeshima.
The daily says intra-governmental discussions among high-level Japanese officials regarding the sea survey began last December.
Tokyo's Foreign Ministry sent a memo to the Japanese coast guard saying the sea exploration does not breach international laws and that the final decision was up to them. The paper also reports the Japanese government initially expected its Korean counterpart simply to denounce the plan and warn the ships to return.
But Seoul's responded more strongly. In a nationally televised special statement last month, Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Japan's attempt was a provocation on the country's sovereignty.
Arirang News
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