Dokdo from above Japan Threatens Action if Korea Surveys Dokdo Waters Japan Cannot Halt Korean Sea Survey: Ban Tension Restrained Over Korea’s Dokdo Survey Plan

The 2,500-ton vessel will start surveying oceanic currents in the southern East Sea near Ulsan, and then move along the eastern coast to reach waters near Dokdo around mid-July. More protests from Japan are expected as the ship nears Dokdo, since Tokyo has been asserting territorial claims over the Korean islets and vowed to send patrol boats there if Korea goes ahead.

The government says the purpose of the trip is to study oceanic currents, salinity and sea-temperature in the East Sea. The National Oceanographic Research Institute also emphasizes that the survey is part of regular activity rather than a mission to highlight Korea’s sovereignty over the rocks. On its homepage, it says it conducts maritime surveys in the South and East Sea to discover sea routes, ensure safe voyages, anticipate the movement and dissipation of marine pollution and support maritime exercises and rescue missions.

But Japan has a history of interfering with these activities. In August 1996 and May 1997, Japan sent a patrol boat near Dokdo to prevent a Korean ship from surveying the waters, and in July 2004, a 2,000-ton Korean ship had to abandon a survey in waters east of Dokdo for fear of a diplomatic conflict after a Japanese patrol ship approached and demanded it turn back.

“This time will be different,” a government official vowed. That reflects a new determination to safeguard Korean territory from Tokyo after Seoul decided to abandon its so-called “silent diplomacy” of simply ignoring persistent Japanese territorial claims, according to another government official. A strong reaction to Japan is likely to exacerbate already tense Korean-Japanese diplomatic relations. Tokyo has warned it will send a patrol boat and broadcast messages ordering any Korean boat to turn back.

(englishnews@chosun.com )