Japan's Unreasonable Claim on Dokdo Sovereignty Again... "Dual Approach Needed for Conflict Management"

In the diplomatic white paper released by the Japanese government one month after our government's announcement of a solution to forced labor, Japan reiterated its claim of sovereignty over Dokdo. Notably, it omitted the statement on "succession of historical awareness by successive cabinets," which our government had regarded as Japan's "sincere response" in the forced labor solution. Some express concerns that this could become an obstacle to the improving phase of Korea-Japan relations.

Im Soo-seok, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing held at the Seoul Jongno-gu government office on the afternoon of the 11th, "The Korea-Japan Joint Declaration by Kim Dae-jung and Obuchi, which Japan agreed to succeed, contains a profound reflection on the entire colonial rule that is the root cause of forced labor and a heartfelt apology," and urged, "We hope the Japanese government will continue to uphold the spirit of this declaration without change."

On the morning of the 11th, Kumagai Naoki, Charg? d'Affaires (Minister) of the Embassy of Japan in Korea, who was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over Japan's unjust territorial claim to Dokdo in its diplomatic white paper, is entering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa reported the 2023 Diplomatic Bluebook at the Cabinet meeting held that morning. This document corresponds to our diplomatic white paper, and the Japanese government publishes the Diplomatic Bluebook every April, recording the latest international situation and its diplomatic activities. In this year's Diplomatic Bluebook, Japan described South Korea as "an important neighboring country with which we must cooperate in responding to various challenges in the international community." Compared to last year's brief description as an "important neighboring country," this emphasizes Korea's importance more strongly, reflecting a willingness to improve Korea-Japan relations.

However, the rest of the content is controversial. Like last year, this Diplomatic Bluebook repeats the groundless claim of sovereignty over Dokdo and, when describing the forced labor solution announced last month, omitted the part where Foreign Minister Hayashi confirmed that "the Japanese government will comprehensively succeed the positions of successive cabinets regarding historical awareness, including the Korea-Japan Joint Declaration announced in October 1998."

The Korea-Japan Joint Declaration announced in October 1998 by then-President Kim Dae-jung and Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi Keizo contains "profound reflection and sincere apology" for Japan's colonial rule. Therefore, the statement to succeed this declaration was regarded as the "sincere response" that our government had consistently demanded from Japan and was considered a core issue in the process of deriving the forced labor solution.

In particular, the Diplomatic Bluebook asserted, "Takeshima (竹島, the name Japan claims for Dokdo) is clearly Japan's inherent territory both historically and under international law," and argued, "South Korea continues to illegally occupy Takeshima without any basis under international law by stationing a coast guard." Since the expression that "South Korea is illegally occupying Dokdo" appeared in the 2018 Diplomatic Bluebook, this baseless claim has been repeated for six consecutive years.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi reported the "2023 Diplomatic Bluebook" at the Cabinet meeting held on the morning of the 11th. The Diplomatic Bluebook states, "There is a territorial issue between Japan and Korea over Takeshima (竹島, the name Japan uses for Dokdo)," and asserts that "Takeshima is clearly Japan's inherent territory both historically and under international law" (page 66, red underline).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a spokesperson's statement immediately after the release of the Diplomatic Bluebook, saying, "The Japanese government repeated its unjust claim of sovereignty over Dokdo, which is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically, and under international law, through the Diplomatic Bluebook," and emphasized, "The government will continue to firmly respond to any unjust claims by Japan regarding Dokdo." Subsequently, the ministry summoned Kumagai Naoki, the Charg? d'Affaires of the Japanese Embassy in Korea, to deliver a strong protest.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained to reporters that day, "I understand that during the summoning process, opinions were exchanged not only on Dokdo but also on forced labor." When asked if a protest was made to Charg? d'Affaires Kumagai, the official said, "It is not appropriate to represent or evaluate Japan's position through the Diplomatic Bluebook," but added, "It is regrettable that the Diplomatic Bluebook again repeated the expression that dilutes the coerciveness by saying 'Koreans who are considered to have worked at Japanese companies.'"

Every time Japan repeats its claim of sovereignty over Dokdo, our government's response remains at a similar level each year. The usual procedure is to issue a statement under the spokesperson's name and summon the Charg? d'Affaires of the Japanese Embassy in Korea. Especially since this Diplomatic Bluebook was released shortly after the announcement of the forced labor solution, which was considered the biggest issue between Korea and Japan, there are concerns that it could become an obstacle to the hard-won improving phase of Korea-Japan relations.

Professor Park Won-gon of Ewha Womans University pointed out Japan's claim of sovereignty over Dokdo but advised that "a dual approach to conflict management is important." For example, issues that are difficult to resolve such as ▲claims of sovereignty over Dokdo ▲distortion of history textbooks ▲visits to Yasukuni Shrine should be viewed separately from matters requiring cooperation between the two countries. Professor Park said, "No matter how much effort we make, it is difficult to improve Japan's baseless claim over Dokdo," and added, "While maintaining a firm stance, diplomatic efforts are required to manage the situation so that bilateral relations do not deteriorate."

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