ID :
39381
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 19:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/39381
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea warns Japan not to seek marine research around Dokdo
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has urged Japan to drop its reported plan for underwater scientific research near Dokdo, a cluster of South Korean-controlled islets in the East Sea, a government official here said Wednesday.
"We delivered a clear message yesterday through a diplomatic channel that Japan
should not push for such a research project without South Korea's consent," a
foreign ministry official told Yonhap News Agency, asking not to be named.
Dodko has been a source of frequent contention between the neighboring nations,
despite growing economic and cultural exchanges. Tokyo has laid claim to the
islets in an apparent bid to turn them into disputed territory, while Seoul has
firmly maintained that Dokdo's ownership is not an issue of debate.
The waters surrounding Dokdo are popular with squid fishermen and the seabed is
believed to hold huge gas hydrate deposits.
The Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, said in a front-page article on
Tuesday that Tokyo has drafted a 10-year plan to conduct an aggressive scientific
survey near Dokdo and in the East China Sea in search of oil, gas hydrate and
other energy resources.
"Japan seems to be in the final stage of making the research project. We expect
Japan not to include the waters near Dokdo in its final plan in consideration of
its relations with South Korea," the official said.
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is scheduled to visit Seoul this weekend for a
summit with President Lee Myung-bak for discussions on fully normalizing the two
nations' often prickly ties.
In 2006, the Japanese coast guard aborted a plan to dispatch a research vessel to
South Korea's exclusive economic zone in the East Sea in the face of strong
opposition from Seoul.
Analysts view the disclosure of Japan's renewed attempts as aimed at countering
recent activities in South Korea and Japan.
Earlier this week, the state-funded Korea Maritime Institute announced that it
had discovered a decree issued by Japan's prime minister in 1951 which describes
Dokdo as not belonging to Japan.
Japanese media also reported that the Chinese government has been developing a
gas field in the East China Sea amid stalled talks over a Tokyo-Beijing agreement
to jointly develop the area.
Meanwhile, the leaders of South Korea and Japan are planning to discuss a joint
aid plan for Afghanistan in their upcoming summit, officials said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
"We delivered a clear message yesterday through a diplomatic channel that Japan
should not push for such a research project without South Korea's consent," a
foreign ministry official told Yonhap News Agency, asking not to be named.
Dodko has been a source of frequent contention between the neighboring nations,
despite growing economic and cultural exchanges. Tokyo has laid claim to the
islets in an apparent bid to turn them into disputed territory, while Seoul has
firmly maintained that Dokdo's ownership is not an issue of debate.
The waters surrounding Dokdo are popular with squid fishermen and the seabed is
believed to hold huge gas hydrate deposits.
The Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, said in a front-page article on
Tuesday that Tokyo has drafted a 10-year plan to conduct an aggressive scientific
survey near Dokdo and in the East China Sea in search of oil, gas hydrate and
other energy resources.
"Japan seems to be in the final stage of making the research project. We expect
Japan not to include the waters near Dokdo in its final plan in consideration of
its relations with South Korea," the official said.
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is scheduled to visit Seoul this weekend for a
summit with President Lee Myung-bak for discussions on fully normalizing the two
nations' often prickly ties.
In 2006, the Japanese coast guard aborted a plan to dispatch a research vessel to
South Korea's exclusive economic zone in the East Sea in the face of strong
opposition from Seoul.
Analysts view the disclosure of Japan's renewed attempts as aimed at countering
recent activities in South Korea and Japan.
Earlier this week, the state-funded Korea Maritime Institute announced that it
had discovered a decree issued by Japan's prime minister in 1951 which describes
Dokdo as not belonging to Japan.
Japanese media also reported that the Chinese government has been developing a
gas field in the East China Sea amid stalled talks over a Tokyo-Beijing agreement
to jointly develop the area.
Meanwhile, the leaders of South Korea and Japan are planning to discuss a joint
aid plan for Afghanistan in their upcoming summit, officials said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
