Korean Youth Diversity Partnership: June 2017

- Please read this after you've read the first story

' Dokdo defense training ' to protect Dokdo, our territory, was carried out for the first time in a new government. Since 1986, Korean soldiers and the national marine police have been training to protect Dokdo twice a year. Korea does this training because Dokdo is a Korean territory but Japan opposed to this training. Japan denies historical facts and makes contradictory statements as to what they have said in the past.

This time, I brought some more evidence to support our claim that Dokdo is a Korean island.

1. "Tae-Jeong-Gwan Directive” of 1877

On March 20, 1877, the Meiji government of Japan made a document that states that Ulleungdo and Dokdo are not related to Japan through the supreme administrative agency called 'Tae Jeong Gwan'
This directive, which is now the prime ordinance, is evidence that Japan has never claimed sovereignty over Dokdo at this time. Japan claimed that Dokdo was already established in the 17th century of Edo Period (1603~1867) and as you can see in this Directive, it's totally falsehood.

Tae Jeong Gwan issued an order to the Ministry of the Interior and Shimane Prefecture saying that,

" Keep in mind that Ulleungdo Island and 1 other island (Dokdo) are not related to Japan "

2. San Francisco Treaty

San Francisco Treaty is one of the many false evidences of Japan's claim.
Japan claims that Dokdo is their land because Dokdo was not included in the territory that should be returned from this treaty. At that time, Korean ambassador suggested to return Dokdo to Korea, but the United States refused. In regard to the question of the territorial rights of Dokdo from Korea, the United States referred to Dokdo as Japanese territory in Rusk documents.

In a 1953 document by US Secretary of State Dulles, he said that Rusk documents were just one comment from the Allies. Dulles himself confirmed that the San Francisco Treaty has never officially reflected ‘ Dokdo = Japan ’ . The Rusk documents were not reflected in the San Francisco Treaty in the opinion of the Allies, and the Allied Powers did not require the Republic of Korea to return Dokdo to Japan. Therefore, it is inappropriate to present this treaty as an evidence.

* Lots of people call Dokdo issue as ' Dispute' but it's not a dispute. Clearly, Dokdo is a Korean territory and Japan is just trying to take claim with disregarding the facts of history. When it comes to Dokdo issue, I hope people do not refer this as a dispute.

Japan’s goal is to bring the Dokdo issue to ICJ because they think it's going to go favorably for their way.