Nationalistic posturing by 13 South Korean politicians on a rocky outcrop in the Sea of Japan is seen as the latest attempt to antagonise Tokyo. But observers say the long-term goal of this behaviour is to curry favour with North Korea
On Monday, a group of 13 South Korean politicians unfurled their national flag on the top of a rocky outcrop in the Sea of Japan that is controlled by Seoul but claimed by Tokyo as its sovereign territory. Known as Dok-do in Korea, the inhospitable rocks are home to a detachment of police and are visited by boatloads of tourists. The islands appear on Japanese maps as Takeshima.
The Japanese government had used diplomatic channels to urge the politicians not to undertake the trip before they left, in order not to provoke a new dispute, but that request was ignored.
Tokyo subsequently lodged an official complaint with Seoul, with chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga telling reporters that “this Takeshima visit by the politicians was utterly unacceptable in light of our country’s position on the sovereignty of Takeshima”.
The latest point of contention between the two governments came after Moon suggested his administration would abolish a foundation set up in 2015 as part of a “final and irreversible” agreement between Japan and Park Geun-hye, Moon’s predecessor in the presidential Blue House, to draw a line under the controversy of women forced to serve in brothels for the Japanese military before and during the second world war.
Seoul has also opened a research institute charged with gathering documentary evidence about the sex slaves and unveiled a new statue in honour of the victims.
There is also a lingering bad taste in Japan over a row earlier this month in which a Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force warship was forced to withdraw from an international naval review off South Korea’s Jeju island after Tokyo refused to lower the controversial “rising sun” flag that is still the official ensign of the Japanese navy.
