Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima)

Have you heard of Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima)? You must know about it if you are Korean or Japanese, because there has been a big argument between Korea and Japan. The island is in the middle of the ocean between the countries. Therefore, both countries have insisted that the island belongs to them. The controversy between them goes back many years. According to written history, each can be proved to be right. What a difficult issue.

Actually, I don't know the exact history or the reason for the controversy about Liancourt Rocks (foolishly, even though I am Japanese myself). I thought that I must learn the real story and history of Liancourt Rocks first, and then we need to think what we should do and what the true or not true story is. Sometimes history in textbooks or in the news have biased viewpoints.

In a conversation class, I was partnered with a Korean girl. In the class, we always talk about customs or differences between our own countries and those of different countries. I gain not only skills for conversation in English, but also knowledge about the customs of different countries. However, I was disappointed by the answer from her one day.

She said lots of Koreans think that the Japanese are like a kind of enemy of Korea. That is because of the controversy with Japan insisting the island is Japan's, and the history. Don't you think this is a sad story? The arguement over whose the island is is a big matter to both countries, but I think it is nonsense that we, young people, dislike each other because of biased history or the thinking of politicians. Now, it is time to learn the real history and let's talk about the better future world.

As you know, lots of friends  from different countries, such as Koreans, Taiwanese, Chinese, Turks, Colombians, Brazilians, Japanese, and French people are connected in our school. We were born in different places which have different names, but we are connecting somewhere. It is a beautiful destiny, isn't it?

Comments

[Myf]

I had never even heard of these islands before, but I am grateful to learn a bit of history and geography. It reminds me of the dispute between the UK and Argentina in the 80s, over the Falkland Islands. I agree that it seems ridiculous to argue over tiny islands.

[Keita]

Myf,
Thanks for your message.
I think so. It is ridiculous. For additional information, the island is tiny and there is no animals, beautiful places, and resources. Some critics say the island should be blown up to atoms if it lead people's frictions.
I didn't know about histories between teh UK and Argentina. We might have to learn histories widely and deeply.

[lucy]

Hello.
I sure that the "Liancourt Rocks" (Korean name "DOKDO") never have been Japan throughout the history.
The DOKDO is indisputably Korean territory. Historical records dating back to 930 indicate that Usanguk, a tributary state to the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) occupied the island in addition to neighboring Ulleungdo. Geographical records from the Sejong Sillok (1432), or the "Chronicle of King Sejong" also mention the island as Usando, land that "in clear weather comes into view."
Korean citizen and police currently are living on the Dokdo. I regret that japan say about the DOKDO again.
I found some article that said the DOKDO is not related anymore with japan.
日本の內務省、 獨島と鬱陵島が韓國の領土であると再確認
1877年、 日本の內務省が太政官に鬱陵島と獨島を日本領土の地籍に含ませるのかに對する最終決定を賴んだ質品書と、 太政官が鬱陵島と獨島は日本と何の關係もない所だと決定して下した指令文を添加記錄した公文書（日本國立公文書管所長）
1876年、 日本の內務省は近代的な日本の地圖と地積圖を作成するため、 各地方の縣に地元の地圖と地積圖を作成して送るように訓令したが、 島根縣は東海の中にある鬱陵島(竹島)と獨島(松島)を島根縣に含むかどうかについて質問書を提出した。 日本の內務省は約５ヶ月間調査した結果 鬱陵島と獨島は朝鮮の領土であり、 日本とは關係のない土地であると確認した。 しかし、 領土の問題は重大な事項だから國家最高の機關である太政官の最終確認の決定が必要であると考え、 太政官に質問した。
I hope you’ll know the truth of history between korea and japan.

[Keita]

Thanks for message and details.

Lucy, you a student of Embassy CES?
I've already checked the article about Liaacourt Rocks like this article above. But I'm sorry, I'm not talking about whose the island is. Hope you got something or think something more important than the argument like "whose is it?".
Thanks anyway. Hope you will keep in touch with my blog.

[Flavcorn]

see this article:

http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Dokdo

nobody knows about it, though.

citizendium is similar to wikipedia except that people there use their real names & experts get final say in disputes & they have "approved" versions of articles that no one can change.

[Sarah]

There's no doubt that Liancourt Rocks belong to Japan. There is a note from wikipedia America. If all people see the documents refered in the article, you can understand it.
Read "Rusk Document" and "The Report of Van Fleet Mission to the Far East".

(from American wikipedia)
The recent dispute stems largely from conflicting interpretations of whether Japan's renunciation of sovereignty over its occupied territories after World War II was supposed to cover the Liancourt Rocks as well. Supreme Commander Allied Powers Instruction #677 of January 29, 1946, listed the Liancourt Rocks, along with many other islands, as part of those territories over which Japanese administration was to be suspended.[44] [45] In the first to fifth drafts of the Treaty of San Francisco between Japan and the Allied powers, Liancourt Rocks were described as part of Korea.[46] However, the sixth draft, which was made on Dec 29, 1949, ruled that Liancourt Rocks belong to Japan. The final version did not mention Liancourt Rocks. In Aug 10, 1951, a notification currently known as Rusk documents was sent to South Korea as a final U.S. Government reply on the issue of sovereignty between South Korea and Japan, and it states that Liancourt Rocks are territory of Japan. Later, In October 3, 1952, from the US Embassy Tokyo to the US State Department, "[...]The history of these rocks has been reviewed more than once by the Department, and does not need extensive recounting here. The rocks, which are fertile seal breeding grounds, were at one time part of the Kingdom of Korea.[...]" In Dec 9, 1953, the US Secretary of State, "[...]US view re Takeshima is simply that of one of many signatories to the treaty. The U.S. is not obligated to 'protect Japan' from Korean "pretensions" to Dokdo, and that such an idea cannot...be considered as a legitimate claim for US action under the U.S.-Japan security treaty.[...]"" [47][48] In 1954, US sent in a special mission ambassador to Korea. The Report of Van Fleet mission to the Far East, "[...]the United States concluded that they remained under Japanese sovereignty and the Island was not included among the Islands that Japan released from its ownership under the Peace Treaty.[...]Though the United States considers that the islands are Japanese territory, we have declined to interfere in the dispute..[...]"" The current U.S. government stands on a neutral position on this issue. In September 1954 and March 1962, Japan proposed to South Korea that the dispute be referred to the International Court of Justice. South Korea has rejected the proposal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liancourt_Rocks

[L.Burmaster]

Many korean distorts Liacnourt rocks is terrotory of Korea from 512AD. But, actually Korean doesn't recognized what is Usando till 1694. After confliction on 1694 between Japan and Joseon Dynasty, Ulluengdo become territory of Korea and nothing mentioned about Liancourt Rocks through the official deplomatic negotiaion. Checking all of antique detail map of Ulluengdo by Joseon dynasty Ululengo inspectors, they clealy recognized Usando is Boussole Rock Jukdo(130"56'23)which is narrow wide shape ,2km north east of Ulleungdo , it is not Liacnourt Rocks(131"52E) locates 90km away southeast of Ullungdo ,two pinnacle rocks.