Japanese Foreign Minister Claims 'Dokdo is Japanese Territory' for 11th Consecutive Year
by Kim Hyunjeong1
Published 30 Jan.2024 17:14(KST)
Forced Labor of Koreans at Sado Mine "Must Be Registered as a World Heritage Site"
In his annual diplomatic speech, the Japanese Foreign Minister made an unfounded claim for the 11th consecutive year that Dokdo, an inherent territory of Korea, belongs to Japan. In response, the government strongly protested the remarks of the Japanese Foreign Minister and urged an immediate retraction.
On the 30th, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko stated in the regular parliamentary diplomatic speech regarding Dokdo, “Considering historical facts and international law, it is Japan's inherent territory,” adding, “Based on this fundamental position, we will respond resolutely.”
The Japanese Foreign Minister has continuously made absurd claims that Dokdo is Japanese territory for 11 years, following the diplomatic speech by current Prime Minister Kishida Fumio when he was Foreign Minister in 2014, in which he referred to Takeshima (竹島, the name Japan claims for Dokdo) as Japan's inherent territory in Shimane Prefecture.
He has repeated fabricated claims of sovereignty over Dokdo, which is historically, geographically, and under international law clearly Korean inherent territory, every January in the parliamentary Foreign Minister’s speech, every March in textbook approvals, every May in the Diplomatic Bluebook, and every July in the Defense Whitepaper.
Regarding the UNESCO World Heritage registration of Sado Mine in Niigata Prefecture, a site of forced labor of Koreans during the Japanese colonial period, Foreign Minister Kamikawa also expressed his intention to “continue polite discussions with related countries and fulfill our role firmly,” maintaining enthusiasm for the registration.
![Yoko Kamikawa, Japanese Foreign Minister [Photo by AFP Yonhap News Archive]](http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/img_view.htm?img=2024013016592548741_1706601564.jpeg)
The Japanese government has been criticized for promoting the World Heritage registration of Sado Mine while limiting the heritage period to the 16th to mid-19th century, deliberately excluding the forced labor of Koreans and ignoring the 'entire history' of the heritage.
However, Foreign Minister Kamikawa emphasized, “We are expanding the scope of connection and cooperation with South Korea, an important neighboring country, in various fields, and as partners, we are repeatedly engaging in close communication at multiple levels to open a new era together.”
Upon learning of Foreign Minister Kamikawa’s remarks, the government issued a statement in the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, stating, “We strongly protest the repeated unjust claims of sovereignty over Dokdo, which is historically, geographically, and under international law clearly our inherent territory.”
It further clarified, “We reaffirm that Japan’s unjust claims have no effect whatsoever on our sovereignty over Dokdo, which is Korea’s inherent territory,” and reiterated, “We will respond firmly to any provocations by Japan regarding Dokdo.”
Regarding the UNESCO World Heritage registration of Sado Mine in Niigata Prefecture, the statement pointed out, “Like Japan’s modern industrial facilities, it is a place with a painful history of forced mobilization during wartime,” and emphasized, “It is of utmost importance to reflect the entire history of Sado Mine when discussing its World Heritage registration.”
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