Liancourt Rocks

name = Liancourt Rocks	image name = Location-of-Liancourt-rocks-en.png
image caption
locator map
native name = Dokdo/Takeshima	native name link =
location	Sea of Japan (East Sea)
coordinates
archipelago
total islands	37
major islands	2
area	187,450 sq meters
highest mount	169 meters
country	Japan
country admin divisions title	Prefecture
country admin divisions	Shimane (Okinoshima Town, Oki District, Shimane)
country 1	South Korea
country 1 admin divisions title	Province
country 1 admin divisions	North Gyeongsang (Ulleung County)
population	43
population as of
density
ethnic groups
elevation

tablewidth	280
color	#cef2e0
background=#f5fffa
sort	japanese1
othername	French name
field1	French
content1	Rochers de Liancourt
hangul
hanja
rr	Dokdo
mr	Tokto
kanji
hiragana
hepburn	Takeshima

The Liancourt Rocks (Japanese: "bamboo island"; Korean: Dokdo(/) "solitary island") are a group of islets in the Sea of Japan. Its domain is disputed between Japan and South Korea.Charles Scanlon South Koreans vent fury at Japan BBC, 18 March 2005 The Republic of Korea currently administers the islands, an action that continues to draw official protests from Japan.http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/liancourt.htm, globalsecurity The name "Liancourt Rocks" comes from the French whaling ship Liancourt which charted the islets in 1849. Today, South Korea places the islets under jurisdiction of Ulleung County, North Gyeongsang Province, while Japan places them under Okinoshima, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture.

Geography :

The Liancourt Rocks are composed mainly of two islets, 150 meters apartKorea.net (19992006). Dokdo: A Profile. Retrieved 9 January, 2006. (Nishi-jima and Higashi-jima in Japanese, Seodo and Dongdo in Korean; both literally meaning western island and eastern island , respectively). The western islet is the larger of the two islets. Altogether, there are about 90 islets and reefs,Gyongsangbuk-do (2001). Cyber Dokdo. Retrieved 9 January, 2006. volcanic rocks formed in the Cenozoic era.Geography of Dokdo truthofdokdo.or.kr, retrieved 2007-08-21, 'Dokdo is composed of alkaline effusive rocks which erupted during the Cenozoic Era. Dokdo began to form about 4.6 million years ago' A total of 37 of these islets are recognized as permanent land. In 2006, It has been reported that the islets formed 4.5 million years ago and are quickly eroding.", ", The Korea Times, 2006/12/01. ` ` ``, JoongAng Ilbo, 2006/12/01.

The total area of the islets is about 187,450 square meters (2,017,695 sq ft), with their highest point at 169 meters (554 ft) in the western islet. The western islet is about 88,640 square meters in area; the eastern islet about 73,300 square meters. Liancourt Rocks are located at about 131°52 East longitude and about 37°14 North latitude. The western islet is located at and the eastern islet is located at . The islets are 217 km (135 mi) from mainland Korea and 250 km (150 mi) from mainland Japan. The nearest Korean territory (Ulleung-do) is 87 km (54 mi) away (can be visible on clear days) and the nearest Japanese territory (Oki Islands) is 157 km (98 mi) away.

The western islet consists of a single peak, and features many caves along the coastline. The cliffs of the eastern islet are about 10 to 20 meters high. There are two large caves giving access to the sea, as well as a crater.Truth of Dokdo. Story of Dokdo. Retrieved 9 January, 2006.

Economy and tourism :

As of 2005, only 26 Japanese citizens have registered the islets as the location of their registry, http://www.shugiin.go.jp/itdb_shitsumon.nsf/html/shitsumon/b162055.htm , , (Replies by the Cabinet of Japan to the interpellations by Congressman Tetsundo Iwakuni on Japanese family and residential registries in areas under territorial dispute #162-55, 2005-5-17). "... " while thousands of Koreans do the same.Roger Dean Du Mars, "Address Registration Revives Islands Dispute". South China Morning Post, December 28, 1999 In 1999, South Korea requested the Japanese government refuse to permit new residents, but Japan responded that it could not "bar its residents from shifting census registration as the island is part of Japanese territory." At least two civilians are permanent residents.Kim Tong-hyung, Dokdo Hosts First Civilians in a Decade, The Korea Times, 02-19-2006.Dokdo: Inhabitants and Visitors, Korean Overseas Information Service, May 27, 2005. The Korean government allegedly subsidizes their living there in order to justify a claim of habitation.

There is a regular ferry service from Ulleung-do to Liancourt Rocks.See Cyber Dokdo. There were 1,507 and 1,597 recorded tourists in 2003 and 2004 respectively. Due to their status as a nature reserve, special permits are required for tourists seeking to land on the islets rather than just circling them.

Although the islets themselves are barely habitable, the Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding them has rich fishing grounds and possible reserves of natural gas.Truth of Dokdo. Importance of Dokdo. Retrieved 9 January, 2006. As of 2006, the expected reserves have not been found. A wide variety of fish as well as seaweed, kelp, sea slugs, and clams are located around the islets. Major fishery catches in the area are squid, Alaskan pollock, codfish, and octopus. There are 102 species of seaweed, although many of these have no economic value.

Until relatively recently, this was one of the largest breeding grounds of sea lions (Zalophus californianus japonicus) and a good spot for hunting them and also a spot for Japanese fishermen to obtain abalone at the end of the Meiji period (18681912).Historically,Takeshima belongs to Japan, Shimane Prefectural Government, Japan Until the 1950s, sea lions were observed on Liancourt Rocks by voluntary guards.(ko) "50 2030 . (82· ) " () , , " ." , The Kukmin Daily, 2006.02.02

There are approximately 37 South Korean police that guard the islets. Also, there are Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries personnel, and three lighthouse keepers living on the islets in rotation. In the past, several fishermen also lived there temporarily.Korea.net (19992006). Dokdo: Inhabitants and Visitors. Retrieved 9 January, 2006.

In 2005, the first recorded wedding ceremony was held on Liancourt Rocks. The South Korean couple chose the location to protest against Japanese territorial claims.Tour 2 Korea Dokdo Tour. Retrieved 18 January, 2006.

Climate :

Due to its location and extremely small size, the Liancourt Rocks sometimes have harsh weather. At times, ships are unable to dock because of strong northwestern winds in winter. Overall, the climate is warm and humid, and heavily influenced by warm sea currents. Precipitation is high throughout the year (annual average1324 mm), with occasional snowfall. Fog is also a common sight. In the summer, southernly winds dominate. The water around the islets is about 10 degrees Celsius in spring, when the water is coolest. It warms to about 25 degrees Celsius in August.

Ecology :

The islets are volcanic rocks, with only a thin layer of soil and moss. About 80 species of plants, over 22 species of birds, and 37 species of insects have been recorded on the islets, in addition to the local maritime life. The islets are too small to have any significant amount of fresh water.

In the early 1970s trees and some types of flowers were planted. Trees are required under international law for the islets to be recognized as natural islands rather than reefs.

The Liancourt Rocks were declared "Natural Monument #336" by South Korea in the 1990s. While home to some birds, the islets mostly provide temporary refuge for birds migrating elsewhere. They serve as a home to Fork-tailed Storm-petrel, Streaked Shearwater, and Black-tailed Gulls. The population of breeding birds counted on the rocks, however, has been declining in recent years.

In 1999, the islets were designated a special environmental protected area by the South Korean government. They predate any Korean volcanic islands.

It was announced in 2005 that three new genera and five new species of bacteria had been identified by ROK scientists in the waters off Liancourt RocksNames for bacteria find favor Korea, JoongAng Ilbo, June 09, 2005. Dokdonella koreensis, Dokdonia donghaensis and Maribacter dokdonensis ` ` ` `, Yonhap/JoongAng Ilbo, 2005.06.09. `` ` ` , Yonhap/JoongAng Ilbo, 2005.06.10. http://japanese.joins.com/article/article.php?aid=70967&servcode=400§code=420 , JoongAng Ilbo, 2005.12.22. "" ` ` , JoongAng Ilbo, 2007.03.22. while the scientific society requested the authors to restrain themselves from claiming the sovereignty in the scientific papers. The genera are Dokdonella koreensis,Jung-Hoon Yoon, So-Jung Kang and Tae-Kwang Oh Dokdonella koreensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from soil, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56 (2006), 145-150; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.63802-0. Dokdonia donghaenensis,Jung-Hoon Yoon, So-Jung Kang, Choong-Hwan Lee and Tae-Kwang Oh Dokdonia donghaensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from sea water, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55 (2005), 2323-2328; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.63817-0. and Donghae dokdoensis.Jung-Hoon Yoon, So-Jung Kang, Choong-Hwan Lee and Tae-Kwang Oh Donghaeana dokdonensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from sea water, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56 (2006), 187-191; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.63847-0. The newly identified species are Virgilbacillus dokdoensis,Jung-Hoon Yoon, So-Jung Kang, Soo-Young Lee, Mi-Hwa Lee and Tae-Kwang Oh Virgibacillus dokdonensis sp. nov., isolated from a Korean island, Dokdo, located at the edge of the East Sea in Korea, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55 (2005), 1833-1837; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.63613-0. Maribacter dokdoensis,Jung-Hoon Yoon, So-Jung Kang, Soo-Young Lee, Choong-Hwan Lee and Tae-Kwang Oh Maribacter dokdonensis sp. nov., isolated from sea water off a Korean island, Dokdo, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55 (2005), 2051-2055; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.63777-0. Marimonas dokdoensis,Jung-Hoon Yoon, So-Jung Kang and Tae-Kwang Oh Marinomonas dokdonensis sp. nov., isolated from sea water, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55 (2005), 2303-2307; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.63830-0. Polaribacter dokdoensis,Jung-Hoon Yoon, So-Jung Kang and Tae-Kwang Oh Polaribacter dokdonensis sp. nov., isolated from seawater, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56 (2006), 1251-1255; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.63820-0., Sphingomonas dokdonensisJung-Hoon Yoon, Mi-Hwa Lee, So-Jung Kang, Soo-Young Lee and Tae-Kwang Oh Sphingomonas dokdonensis sp. nov., isolated from soil, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56 (2006), 2165-2169; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.64114-0., Isoptericola dokdonensis,Jung-Hoon Yoon, Peter Schumann, So-Jung Kang, Seo-Youn Jung and Tae-Kwang Oh Isoptericola dokdonensis sp. nov., isolated from soil, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56 (2006), 2893-2897; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.64430-0. Porphyrobacter dokdoensis,Jung-Hoon Yoon, So-Jung Kang, Mi-Hwa Lee, Hyun Woo Oh and Tae-Kwang Oh Porphyrobacter dokdonensis sp. nov., isolated from sea water, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56 (2006), 1079-1083; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.63840-0. Stenotrophomonas dokdonensisJung-Hoon Yoon, So-Jung Kang, Hyun Woo Oh and Tae-Kwang Oh Stenotrophomonas dokdonensis sp. nov., isolated from soil, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56 (2006), 1363-1367; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.64091-0. and Variovorax dokdonensis.Jung-Hoon Yoon, So-Jung Kang and Tae-Kwang Oh Variovorax dokdonensis sp. nov., isolated from soil, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56 (2006), 811-814; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.64070-0.

Strategic location :

The islets are of importance not only for economic reasons, but also for military reasons . They have occasionally served a military purpose, such as a temporary watchtower during the Russo-Japanese War. The South Korean government has built a radar station and helicopter landing pad on the islets, enabling it to track foreign naval forces. The 37 police on the islets serve as armed guards.

History of the territorial dispute :

researchers disagree on who first had administrative control over the islets due to ambiguities in early historical records and maps, partly due to changes in the names of the islands in the area over the years. http://www.dokdo-takeshima.com/dokdo1-cms1530.pdf

The Three Kingdoms period :

In 1145, Samguk Sagi (Chronicles of Three Kingdoms) recorded that the state of Usan (Usan-guk), an island kingdom located on Ulleung-do, was conquered and "re-integrated" into Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, in 512. Samguk Sagi also mentions that another name of Usan-state is Ulleung-do. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,." The character "do" () refers to island, whereas "guk" () refers to state/nation. See http://toron.pepper.jp/jp/take/15C/shiragi6.html . -·· 13(512)6

Edo/Joseon period :

The Taejong-sillok ( Annals of King Taejong) recorded that "60 people were living on Yusan-guk-do ( , Yusan-state-island). According to a 1417 government report, there were 86 yusando inhabitants as of 1412. Yusan-guk's diameter was 2shik (24km), and its circumference is eight 8shik(96km)." "" See 124

The 1417 report is as follows:

An expedition was launched under inspector Kim Inu, and from Usando, the expedition brought back local products as tribute, including bamboo, seal skins, raw ramie cloth, silk wool, and ginger. Kim also brought back three Usando natives. Kim also reported that there were fifteen households living on the island, summing to the fugure of eighty-six inhabitants. On their way back from the island, Kim Inu's expedition went across two typhoons, barely reaching the mainland alive. 33172 5 "http://sillok.history.go.kr/inspection/insp_king.jsp?id=wca_11702005_003&tid=&pos=0&mTree=0&inResult=0&clsName=&indextype=1&searchType=a&keyword=&keyword2=&setlist_K=&setlist_W=&detail=0&opH=0&opAll=0&opP=0&opA=0&opB=0&opC=0&opQ=0&chkID=0&qH=&qAll=&qP=&qA=&qB=&qC=&qQ=&idS=&idE= Today, Korea claims that Usan-do is present day Liancourt Rocks. However, the person cannot live independent at Liancourt Rocks, and the bamboo has not grown either. Therefore, Japanese scholars are pointing out that Usan-do is not Liancourt Rocks based on an inspection by Joseon government. (studies in law) 6 (Ph. D. Hamada) p297 "(It is recorded that the person lives in Usan-do, and the bamboo etc. are yielded. But Liancourt Rocks is not suitable for the person's residence and the tree can't grow in the island)"

The Sejong Sillok ( "Chronicle of King Sejong", 1432) mentions Usan-do ,http://sillok.history.go.kr/inspection/insp_king.jsp?id=wda_40009004_002 ", , ", National Institute of Korean HistoryKorea.net (19992006).History of Dokdo. Retrieved 9 January, 2006 but interpretation of the context is disputed. The text is interpreted as follows: "Usan-do ( ) and Mureung-do ( , a former name of Ulleungdo), located in the sea east of the Uljin Prefecture, are close enough to each other that in clear weather the two islands come into view of each other". This constitutes clear evidence that Usan-do refers to the Liancourt Rocks, the only island that is visible from Ulleungdo only in clear weather. However, there are other interpretations that the latter part as "come into view from mainland Korea". Instead, Usan-do may now refer to Jukdo, located four kilometers east of Ulleung-do. " (When the Korean topography records in the Joseon dynasty described islands, it was regulated to write the direction from the local government and the distance from the land.) See http://toron.pepper.jp/jp/take/tizu/chirisi.html. by Prof. Shimojyo.

The Dong'guk yeoji seungnam ( "Augmented Geography Survey of the Eastern Nation (Korea)", 1481) defining Korea's territory, stated that "Usando and Ulleungdo are under the jurisdiction of Uljin-hyeon of Gangwon-do as an administrative unit. However, it also mentions that the tree and the beach could be clearly seen on a fine day. 27,20814 ", , , , , , , , ", National Institute of Korean History. The 1531 revision of this book includes the :Image:Hachidou2.jpg|Paldo Chongdo ("Map of the Eight Provinces"), showing two separate islands of Usan-do and Ulleung-do in the middle of the Sea of Japan. Usando is drawn to the west of Ulleungdo (The Liancourt rocks are actually located the south ofUlleungdo).

- Man'gi yoram ("Handbook of State Affairs") from 1808 quotes the earlier Yeojiji ("Gazette") that Ulleungdo and Usando all belonged to Usan'guk Quoting the Yeojiji, it was further mentioned that Usando was equivalent to what the Japanese then called Matsushima. (i.e., the present Liancourt Rocks,Takeshima) See the English translation at the bottom of this link http://user.chollian.net/cgi-bin/ics/ics.cgi?id=zstokdo&db=notice&action=read&num=113&vnum=99&&page=2&ftype=0&fval=&backdepth=1 However, after the resurfacing of the Yeojiji, It was discovered the Yeojiji stated that "...Usan-do and Ulleung-do are spoken of as the same island..." (Prof. Shimojyo) 20079 p98"(As a result, it turned out that Yeojiji stated as "Usan-do and Ulleung-do are spoken of as the same island, too.")"http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/soumu/web-takeshima/takeshima04/takeshima04-1/index.data/shokun2007.9.pdf

Usando is displayed on the cartographs made by Chong Sang-gi (1678~1752); :Image:Heajwa chondo.jpg|Haejwa Jeondo (1822), and :Image:Tongguk.jpg|Dongguk Jeondo (by Kim Tae-gon, 18211846), Usando is displayed. The islet points out as the Liancourt rocks, but Japan construes this to be Juk-do, noting the distance, shape, size, and direction. See Map which is on this page and part of the "" site

From the early fifteenth century to the aftermath of the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598), the Joseon court was unable and unwilling to maintain a civilian population on both Ulleung-do and Usan-do. According to the Taejong Sillok ("Annals of King Taejong"), the mainland government forcibly evacuated the islands during Taejong's reign, in accordance to the "vacant island policy"3317(1417)28, National Institute of Korean History. Thus the islets were only occasionally populated by permanent settlers up to the seventeenth century (a permanent population existed only on Ulleung-do). Following the war, the islands were completely vacated.

- Takeshima Tkai Yuraiki Bassho Hikae, written by ya Kyuemon, records that in 1618 the Tokugawa Shogunate granted fishing rights to the ya and Murakawa families of Yonago, and in 1661, bestowed the feudal tenure of "Takeshima", which then referred to Ulleung-do. On the way to Ulleung-do, Japanese fishermen sometimes used the Liancourt islets, then called in Japanese , as an intermediate port of call. These grants were invalid because the islets were Korean territory.Dokdo Is Korean Territory, May 2005, Korea Foundation Newsletter In 1677, a Retainer by the name of Saito Hessen compiled the Onshu shicho goki ("Records on Observations in Oki Province"), a set of records based upon his observations he had made under orders from the Daimyo of Izumo(Sesshu).

"Oki is in the middle of the North Sea and is called Okinoshima. Going further from there for two days and one night in a northwesterly direction, one reaches Matsushima. Also there is Takeshima at another day's travel. These two islands are uninhabited and viewing Goryeo from there is like viewing Oki from Onshu. And thus this "" marks the northwestern boundary of Japan."

Considering that this report was compiled from the view of Japan, Matsushima (the closer island) refers to Liancourt Rocks and Takeshima (the farther island) refers to Ulleungdo.First Japanese Record on Tokdo from the First Written Records on Tokdo site maintained by Iwato Hashimori

In 1695 the Shogunate inquired to The Tottori clan (Shimane Prefecture) if Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and Matsushima (Liancourt rocks) were part of either Imbashu or Hoki districts, where the Oyas and Murakawas of Yonago resided.

The Shogunate inquired:

"'Since when has Takeshima (Ulleungdo), supposedly a part of both Inaba ()and Hoki (), become under the jurisdiction of two districts ? Was it before or after the year 1632, when the ancestors were given this land? Besides Takeshima (Ulleungdo) are there any other islands that are within the Jurisdiction of both districts ?"

The Tottori (Shimane) replied:

"'Takeshima does not belong to Inaba District () nor Hoki District (). There are no other islands belonging to the two districts including Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and Matsushima (Liancourt rocks)."

The An Yong-bok incident :

In the spring of 1693 about 40 Korean fishermen from Busan and Ulsan clashed with the Otani and Murakawa fishermen at Ulleung-do. Ahn Yong-bok () and Pak Eo-dun () were captured and taken to the Yonago in the Tottri clan (modern-day Yonago city and Tottori Prefecture). An was detained in Otani's house in Yonago for two months, and investigated by the Tottori clan. The shogunate ordered to send them to the Nagasaki magistrate place, and to send them to Tsushima clan in addition. An was held hostage by the lord of Tsushima clan (So Yoshitsugu) again. When An was repatriated to Korea, the Tokugawa Shogunate demanded the prohibition of Koreans going to Ulleung-do.????? "??????" This led to diplomatic friction between Japan and Korea. After An was repatriated to Korea, he testified that "the Kanpaku (Imperial regent) of the Tokugawa Shogunate made a note that confirmed Ulleungdo as Korean territory and I was in possession of the note until I was seized en route to Korea by the lord of Nagasaki, where it was confiscated and I was held on the grounds of trespassing onto Japanese territory." Korean scholars allege as a fact this testimony;See Japanese government reconfirms Dokdo and Uleungdo as Korean territories at the end of 17th century on the Cyber Dokdo site. Japanese scholars, however, insist that this testimony is An's claim, because he did not go to Edo where the Shogunate lived, and the Shogunate demanded Koreans prohibited from going to Ulleung-do.See http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/soumu/takesima/chukanhoukoku/index.data/taniguti-report.pdf See http://homepage2.nifty.com/oppekepe/takeshima/eng/korea/Ahn_incident/img/ahn_map.jpg As result of diplomatic negotiation, senior statesmens of shogunate issued the following instructions to the load of Tsuhima clan in January 1696 (translated into English):

1. Ulleungdo(Takeshima) is about 160-ri (640km) from Oki but only about 40-ri (160km) from Korea; therefore, it can be considered that Japanese Takeshima is same island as Korean Ulleungdo. " " See ??. ? ???.

2. Japanese are forbidden henceforth to make passage to Takeshima for the Japan-Korea friendship because the island is useless. "???? ?" See ??. ? ???.

3. The lord of Tsushima should communicate this to Korea.

Though Tottori clan reported to the shogunate that Takeshima does not belong to Inaba state () nor Hoki state (). There are no other islands belonging to the two states including Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and Matsushima (Liancourt Rocks),Shimane Prefecture site on Takeshima the shogunate did not order a prohibition of Japanese going to Matsuhima (Liancourt Rocks). In the diplomatic negotiation between Japan (Tsushima clan) and the Chosun government, they never discussed the Liancourt Rocks.

In 1696, Ahn visited Japan again. Acording to a Japanese record which found in in May of 2005, the Bafuku is the investigation on Anyongbok who arrived in Hokishu in May 1696 via the Oki Islands. The document has a total of 15 pages. The fifth page records Anyongboks statement that Jasando (Usando) is Matsushima () The last page records the eight provinces of Korea. The document specifically states that Takeshima ( Ulleungdo) and Matsushima ( Liancourt Rocks) are part of Gangwan Province ().http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Anyongbok-doc15.jpg

The principal retainer of the shogunate directed the Tottori clan to send him away because only the Tsushima clan has the right about diplomacy with Joseon. http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/soumu/web-takeshima/takeshima04/takeshima04_01/index.data/05_b6.pdf According to the Sukjong Sillok, Ahn testified as follows after he had banished from Tottori clan and returned to Joseon.

I sailed to Ulleung-do and the Usando again with the company of sixteen fishermen, disguised as a naval officer, and clashed again with the Japanese at Ulleung-do. The Japanese said they were living on Matsushima and strayed onto Takeshima (Ullungdo) while fishing and would return. I fulminated at this, demanding to know why the Japanese were living on a Korean island. When I was arriving in Japan, I said to the lord of the Tottori clan that "though it was confiscated by the Tsushima clan, I got the Tokugawa Shogunate's edict that the both islands were Korean possessions before visit.When I said that I will appeal for this to the Kanpaku, the lord of Tsushima clan came to Tottori and he entreated me to stop it.New Destroyer to Be Named `An Yong-bok', Korean Times, March 28, 2005.Japan Twice Admitted Korean Sovereignty Over Dokdo, Digital Chosun Ilbo, March 4, 2005.

The Joseon government answered the Tsushima clan about the An Yong-bok incident by oral as follows.

Joseon government told Japan not to admit Ahn's activity in Japan with an official document in March, 1698. It was being written in the document as follows.

It was a good thing, Your country is forced the ban Japanese fishing there.... His(Ahn's) petition is guilty of the lie.(Ahn did not authorized to work for government official) Therefore, he was imprisoned.

" .
.
(It was a good thing, Your country is forced the ban Japanese fishing there.)" " ( () , . ( ) , . . (He did not authorized to work for government official) His petition is guilty of the lie. Therefore, he was imprisoned.)" http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/soumu/web-takeshima/takeshima04/takeshima04_01/takeshima04c.data/shiryou-4-1-8.pdf http://dokdo.naezip.net/Dokdo/Document/Dokukawa02.htm

Joseon goverment did not accused him of Liancourt Rocks matter. Ahn accused of false personation. He represented himself to be a government official. (Ahn did not have right for goverment work, But he represented himself to be a government official) .(even if he did false personation, Ahn worked for country's official affairs. his achievement exceeds his guilty), 1696(, 22) http://www.dokdomuseum.go.kr/board/gongi2/view.php?tbname=gongi2&number=63&page=5&divi=

Following the diplomatic spat in the seventeenth century, the Sangoku setsujozu ("A Map of Three Adjoining Countries"), a map attached to the Sangoku tsuran zusetsu ("An Illustrated General Survey of Three Countries") was compiled by Hayashi Shihei and published in 1785. The map shows international boundaries and foreign countries in different colors: Korea is depicted in yellow and Japan in green. On the map are two islets; Ulleung-do is identified as 'Takeshima' and another island adjacent to it is unidentified. A Korean researcher believes that the unidentified island is the Liancourt Rocks.See Korea's Possessions A Japanese researcher claims that the unidentified island is Jukdo.(prof. FUNASUGIp194"(It is thought that it is not present Liancourt Rocks but belonging islet of Ulleungdo from distance.http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/soumu/web-takeshima/takeshima04/takeshima04_01/index.data/11_c.pdf)" According to the map, the drawings are characters inscribed "Korea's possessions.

In the Dainihonzu ("Map of Great Japan"), another map attached to An Illustrated General Survey of Three Countries, Hayashi also treated Ulleungdo and the Liancourt rocks as Korean territory in an explanatory note. In the latter part of the 18th century, a Japanese geographer made a map called Soezu ("A Complete Illustrated Map") which uses colors to distinguish national borders and territories: Korea in yellow and Japan in red. These islands were not identified by name, but are shown in yellow in their accurate positions and described as "Korea's possessions." http://www2.gol.com/users/hsmr/Content/East%20Asia/Korea/Dokto_Island/History/Shin_Yong-ha_3.html#top

The Joseon government regularly executed the inspection of Ulleung-do after the An Yong-bok incident. The Korean scholar is claiming that Liancourt Rocks was inspected too. However, The Japanese scholar is pointing out that there is no information about Liancourt Rocks in reports of inspections of Ulleung-do at all. (studies in law) 6 (Ph. D. Hamada) p302 "(Because there is no concrete description about Liancourt Rocks in the inspector's reports, it cannot be assumed that inspector had gone to Liancourt Rocks.)"

Bak Chang-seok went to Ulleung-do in 1711 as a inspector. The stone monument that he put up on Ulleung-do still remains. He also made a Ulleung-do's map.http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2101/2086429772_c59068652f_b.jpg and this map was sealed by Bibyeonsa(a border security organization of Joseon government). The Usan-do is drawn in the map, and labeled as "groves of haejang bamboo".http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2189/2086429828_6bf4e03b8d_o.jpg Though the bamboo can't grow up on Liancourt Rocks, it grows on the Juk-do. Therefore, the Japanese scholar claims that this official map proves Usan-do is Juk-do.(Prof. Funasugi) "(Therefore, it was clarified that Usan-do is not Liancourt Rocks by this public Joseon's map.)"http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/soumu/web-takeshima/takeshima04/takeshima04-1/takeshima04-d.html

In 1735 a Gangwon Provincial Governor reported to the King of Joseon, "A survey of Ulleung-do has found that the land is wide and fertile, and there are signs that people have lived there. Also, to its west is Usando, which is also wide." 111(1735119 " "(Prof. Funasugi) p115 "1735(It states about the report of Gangwon Provincial Governor in 1735. Though, Usan-do in the weast of Ulleung-do and wide....) " http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/soumu/web-takeshima/takeshima04/takeshima04_01/index.data/11_a.pdf Liancourt Rocks is small islets in the east of Ulleung-do.

Other maps and records :

Chosen Hachido-no Zu (1758) depicts Ulleung-do and Usan-guk (state) on one big island within Korean territory. Korean scholars insist that the Liancourt rocks are comparised in this one island. Japanese insist that only Ullengdo is drawn in this map.See Chosen Hachido-no Zu, University of Tsukuba Library,.
Sangoku Tsuran Yochi Rotei Zensu (1785) depicts as Korean territory a small island located next to Ulleung-do. Korean scholars believe this to depict the Liancourt rocks, but Japanese scholars believe it corresponds to Juk-do.
Dae Dong Yeo Ji Do (1861), depicts one island. Korean scholars insist that the Liancourt rocks are comprised in this island. Japanese insist that only Ullengdo is drawn in this map.See Dae Dong Yeo Ji Do map Finally, the Korea government also admitted that liancourt rocks does not appear on the this map.dong-a Ilbo http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=020000&biid=2008010125698

In 1849, a French whaler from Le Havre by the name of Le Liancourt, named the islets "Rochers de Liancourt" in 1849. In 1854, the Russians called them the "Manalai and Olivutsa Rocks" upon their first sighting and, in 1855, the English started calling them the "Hornet Rocks."

The inconsistent use of the names "Takeshima" and "Matsushima" in Japanese documents leaves room for dispute. Most Japanese documents and maps after 1905 use the name Takeshima or place the islets in Korean territory outright under the title Dokdo, while pre-1905 documents tend to use Takeshima, Matsushima, or entirely exclude the islets.

In 1869 a the new Meiji government sent a Japanese diplomatic mission to Korea to gather information and establish relations. Their report included information about Takeshima and Matsushima. It reads as follows:

"How Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and Matsushima became Korean Possessions"

"..Matsushima () is a neighbor island of Takeshima () and there is no document on file by the shogunate concerning this island. 2. The island of Takeshima (Ulleungdo) was settled by the Korean people after the 1690s but it now has become uninhabited"

Some Japanese scholars maintain the Matsushima () in this document refers to a different island due to possible mapping errors of this era.

In 1877, the Japanese Dajokan (Council of State) issued the following ruling, (translated into English):

In response to the compilation of the cadastre for Takeshima and another island in the Sea of Japan per Home Office Inquiry.

Knowing that our country has nothing to do with them as the result of the communication between our old government and that country involved after the entry into the island by the Koreans in the fifth year of the Genroku, and having examined the view stated in the inquiry, the following draft instruction has been made for deliberation and sanction.

Draft Introduction-

In reference to Takeshima and another island, it is to be understood that our country has nothing to do with them.

In 1899, Hyeon Chae who is a Korean geographer wrote "Daehanjiji(Korean geography)". Daehanjiji states that the range of Korean territory is from 124 degree 30' East to 130 degree 35' East longitude.(Daehanjiji) See http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/soumu/web-takeshima/takeshima08/2007/record_20070910.data/2-1.JPG Liancourt rocks, which locate at 131 degree 52' East longitude, were not included in Korean territory. The map is called the "Daehan Jeondo", which means "Complete Map of Korea." The range of this map is from 122 degree East to 131 degree East longitude.(Daehan Jeondo) See http://geo.new21.org/tt/attach/0407/050407202251091634/697790.jpg Then liancourt rocks was not included in this map too.

However, The first point to make about the Daehanjiji is that this is by and large a Japanese document. The author's epiloge states "All the records in this book refer to Japanese records and the "Donggukyeojiseungram" which is an old Korean document of Korean geography. This is identical to the position of the Daehanjiji and thus confirms that this publication literally copied Japanese Chosun Sealanes when defining the territorial boundaries of Korea. In the Japanese 1894 and 1899 editions of Chosun Sealanes, Liancourt Rocks () (Dokdo Island) is postioned at 131 degrees - 55 mins East longitude while Chosun's territory at 124 degrees - 30 mins West and 130 degrees - 35 East longitude. However these positional errors do not mean that Japan excluded Dokdo Island from Chosun territory. The Japanese Navy put Dokdo under Chosun's East seashore in its Hwanyeon Sealanes in 1883 and again in Chosun's Sealanes published after 1894 editions again as under the European name of Liancourt Rocks () When Japan wrote these sea lane records in 1894 and 1899, what they did was to make identical translations of the English Navy's "China Sea Directory" into Japanese and Korea in turn translated Japanese records to Korean to make the the Daehanjij. Both of the books Shinchan Chosun Chiriji and the Chosun Chiriji also coincide with Japan's Chosun Sealanes with regard to the positions of Korea's territory. It is quite clear that the publishers of the Daehanjiji sourced its informaton from Japanese maps and documents some of which having positional errors. Below is the 1907 edition of the New Daehanjiji. On page 44 regarding North Kyeongsan Province in Volume 2 of its second edition , Usando is introduced as Ulleungdo's sister island and it states "Usando is Southeast of that island Ulleungdo" This record as well as these are clear evidence that Usando does not refer to neither Jukdo Islet nor Gwaneumdo Islet as both of these are in northeastern positions. This also shows Korea did not consider Usando (Dokdo) as outside its territory when writing this publication . The 1899 Daehanjiji Map-Documents Usando and Dokdo http://www.dokdo-takeshima.com/dokdo-daehanjiji.html

A Korean government executed the inspection of Ulleung-do in 1900. "Uldo-gi" is the report of this inspection written by a Inspector U Yong-jeong. However, in the report of this inspection, only Ulleung-do is written and they did not inspect Liancourt."Uldo-gi" See http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2078068718&size=o On October 25 1900, the Korean Empire issued Korean Government Imperial Ordinance 41 based on U Yong-jeong's report,See Korean Government Imperial Ordinance 41 incorporating the islands of Ulleung-do, Juk-do ( ), and Seok-do ( ) into Ulleung County.

Japanese fisherman were calling Liancourt Rocks "Yanko" in 1903. p123 "Korean and Japanese fishermen were calling this "Yanko"."http://www.geocities.jp/tanaka_kunitaka/takeshima/kankaitsuugyo-1903/11.jpg

The Korean government regards "Seok-do" as the island they now call Dok-do because (Seok-do) is pronounced "Dok-do" in the Gyeongsang and Jeolla dialects.See ChosunKBS Article of the ordinance designated Taehadong as the kun office venue and defined the jurisdiction of the Uldo country magistrate as extending over the whole of Ulleung-do, Juk-do, and Seok-do. Here Juk-do refers to Jukseo-do, a rocky islet adjoining Ullungdo that was confirmed by Yi Kyu-won in his diary during an inspection trip there.

A majority of the people who settled on Ulleungdo were from Jeolla Province. In the dialect of that region dol (meaning rock; seok or in Hanja) is pronounced as dok, thus dol-seom ( literally rocky island) becomes dok-seom. As a result the government registered the island as Seok-do or in the Chinese writing systemthe preferred method of transcription- which had remained official (as was Latin under the Roman Empire and French after the Norman conquest in Great Britain) even after the creation of Hangul as the indigenous Korean alphabet in 1447.

Similar cases can be found not only in the names of islands but also those of valleys. This is especially true for the southern regions of Korea. In some cases Dok-seom is pronounced Dokdo and is written with the Chinese characters . The sound dok or dol is the Chinese character , and is the Chinese character for islandnamely, som or to.

Although the government adopted the name of Seok-do for the rocks when the ordinance came into effect, the residents of Ullungdo called the island either Seok-do or the rocks. During the Russo-Japanese war the Japanese warship Niitakago was sent to Ulleungdo to investigate the area in preparation for the building of a watchtower on the Liancourt rocks in 1904. The deck log of Niitakago recorded that Korea wrote the islets as 'Dokdo ()' "'' See http://dokdo.naezip.net/Dokdo/Dokdo13.htm. () By 1904 Japanese Navy document

Japan, however, makes use of the inconsistency of terms used for the islands and claims that Korea is short of evidence that makes "Seok-do" "Dokdo". Some Japanese researchers claim Seok-do to be a different island now called Gwaneum-do () and that the Korean government did not regard the Liancourt rocks as its territory at the time.See http://toron.pepper.jp/jp/take/hennyu/ishijima41.html

The 19041905 Russia~Japan War and Liancourt Rocks :

On February 8th 1904 the Japanese Navy opened a surprise attack on Russian boats Varyag and Korietz anchored in Chemulpo (Incheon). Their troops continued to advance into Seoul and after weeks of continued intimidation and manipulation, the Koreans signed the February 24th, Japan-Korea Protocol. The protocol allowed the Japanese to occupy strategic areas of Korea. Immediately the Japanese Army and Navy began constructing military observation and communications posts on all strategic coastal and island locations of Korea. These areas included: Uldo Island, Cheju Island, Udo, Hongdo, Palpo, Wonsan, Jukpyeon, Ulsan, Jinae, Geomun Island, Baekryoeng Island, Ulleung Island, Pohang, and Pusan.

On September 25th 1904 the Japanese Warship Niitaka was involved in telegraph construction on Matsushima (Ulleungdo) and reported "Korean's call Liancourt Rocks Dokdo and Japanese fishermen call them Riangko.." It was also reported that "..the East Islet was low and flat, thus suitable for constructing military buildings"

The Japanese Warship Tsushima was issued special directive #276 on November 13th 1904. It included three instructions: a)Inform of the test of the wireless telegraph communications of Takasaki Mountain (on Oki Island) along with the test technician. b)Survey Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo Island) for its suitability for telegraph installation (not wireless telegraph) c)Dispatch workers and materials for Matsushima, (Ulleungdo) Jukpyeon, and Cape Ulsan watchtowers.

On the morning of November 20th 1904 Vice Commander Yamanaka Shibakichi of the Tsushima surveyed Liancourt Rocks and concluded with some difficulty a watchtower could be constructed on Liancourt's East Islet. His survey of Liancourt Rocks was forwarded to the Director of the Japanese Navy's Hydrographic Department on January 5th of 1905.

The Japanese Navy drafted a plan on May 30, immediately following the Battle of Tsushima on May 27-28 1905, and on June 13 instructed the warship Hashitade to go to the island for a further detailed survey. The Navy thus setup a plan for comprehensive facilities in the Sea of Japan including Ullungdo and Takeshima on June 24 of the same year. The plan called for (1) the construction of a large watchtower on the northern part of Ullungdo (nine men to be posted) and a wireless telegraphic station, (2) the construction of the long-pending watchtower on Takeshima/Tokdo (to be manned by four men), (3) the watchtowers of the two islands to be linked by underwater cables which are to be extended to the watch-tower on Oki Island.

Japan's 1905 Shimane Incorporation of Liancourt Rocks :

During the Russo-Japanese War and increasing Japanese influence over Korea, Takeshima was proclaimed a part of Shimane prefecture in Japan under the doctrine of terra nullius (although this presumption is no longer mentioned in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the release of Korean Imperial Ordinance 41) on January 28, 1905. The Koreans were not notified of the annexation until March 23 1906, when Korea had already become a Japanese protectorate under the Protectorate Treaty of 17 November 1905 and thus had no power to protest the Japanese government's actions.

Upon learning the Japanese had incorporated Liancourt Rocks, Ulleungdo Governor Shim Heung Taek sent the following memorandum to the central government on Lunar March 5th 1906:"Dokdo belonging to this county is located in the sea 100 ri from this county. A Japanese steamship moored at Todongp'o in Udo on the 4th day of the month about 8:00 a.m and a group of Japanese Officials came to my office and said, "We came to inspect Dokdo since it is now Japanese territory"

Afterwards the Daehan Governor Responded:"Order No.3 by the Daehan Empires Governor I have read this report. Their word that Dokdo has become Japanese territory is a totally unfounded allegation, recheck the island and action of Japanese people"

The Korean newspaper Daehan Maeil Shinbo also sharply criticized the Japanese incorporation of Takeshima on May 1st 1906 stating:"The Domestic Affairs office stated "It is not unusual for those Japanese Officials to inspect Ulleungdo Island while they were traveling in the area. However their claiming Dokdo as Japanese territory does not make sense at all. We find the Japanese claim shocking"

See http://www.geocities.com/mlovmo/page4.htmlThe South Korean government claims this incorporation is invalid because it was done covertly. Japan, on the other hand, claims it was not done secretly and was reported in newspapers and that it does not violate any international laws.See Takeshima Position

Korean scholar claims as follows. Notably, however, the Japanese did not contact other countries of its annexation of the Liancourt rocks as it did with the acquisition of the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands in the Pacific, when it contacted Great Britain and the U.S. several times, which were only remotely involved in them, as well as notified 12 European countries of its establishment of control over the islands. (In any case, the previously-held claim of terra nullius creates a contradiction in the Japanese argument: if the islands had been Japanese territory since 1618, the terra nullius policy would have been incorrect, while if the terra nullius policy had been right, the Japanese claim of historical ownership over the islets would be void.)

However, Japanese occupation case is not only Ogasawara at that time. Another Korean scholar investigated seven cases about Japanese occupation of the island and concluded that Liancourt Rocks's incorporation procedure by Japan was the same as the other cases.105220068(Prof. Park) p44 "To fill the requirement for occupation of International Law, Japan straightened a deliberate domestic procedure and the form. )" p46 "(Consequentially, Takeshima's occupation by Japan did not have the difference compared with other cases."http://homepage2.nifty.com/oppekepe/thesis/Park.pdf In addition, he pointed out that the incorporation of Japan was not contradicted in International Law.105220068(Prof. Park) p38 "/(Therefore, to ensure title in International Law by additional measures similar to occupation is logically possible. And it is not meaningless.)"http://homepage2.nifty.com/oppekepe/thesis/Park.pdf A Japanese scholar claims that most scholar of International Law at that timeTHE ACQUISITION AND GOVERNMENT OF BACKWARD TERRITORY IN INTERNATIONA LAW by M.F.Lindley P295 "These isolated special agreements, when taken into conjunction with the fact that, apart from the region dealt with in Article 34, notifications have been the exception rather than the rule, save to emphasize the point that such notifications were not required by general law." and judicial precedentsPalmas case "An obligation for the Netherlands to notify to other Powers the establishment of suzerainty over the Sangi States or of the display of sovereignty in these territories did not exist." assume that there is no notification obligation.(Prof. Daijyudo) p145 "(Many of the judicial precedent and the theory do not admit the necessity of the notification.)"

The Cairo Conference of 1943 stated that "Japan will be expelled from all territories which she has taken by violence and greed since the time of the Sino-Japanese War of 18941895." Japan argues that Liancourt Rocks are an integral part of Japanese territory and do not fall within the Cairo Declaration's definition of territories taken by greed, whereas Korea argues that the islets falls under this definition.http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/wwii/cairo.htm

After World War II and during occupied Japan :

Upon Japan's defeat in World War II, during the occupation of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan by the Allies, the SCAP Instruction #677 of January 29, 1946 temporarily ceased Japan's administrative power over Liancourt Rocks.See http://www.geocities.com/mlovmo/temp10.htmlSCAPIN677, Dokdo Center, 2005.09.09. SCAPIN are instructions of occupation forces based on international law of war, and not treaties between subjects.

SUBJECT:Governmental and Administrative Separation of Certain Outlying Areas Japan.

1. The Imperial Japanese Government is directed to cease exercising, or attempting to exercise, governmental or administrative authority over any area outside Japan, or over any government officials and employees or any other persons within such areas.

3. For the purpose of this directive, Japan is defined to include the four main islands of Japan (Hokkaid, Honsh, Kysh and Shikoku) and the approximately 1,000 smaller adjacent islands, including the Tsushima Islands and the Ryky (Nansei) Islands north of 30° North Latitude (excluding Kuchinoshima Island); and excluding

(a) Utsuryo (Ullung) Island, Liancourt Rocks (Take Island), and Kuelpart (saishu or Cheju) Island,

(b) the Ryky (nansei) Islands south of 30° North Latitude (including Kuchinoshima Island), the Izu, Kanpo, Bonin (Ogasawara) and Volcano (Kazan or Iwo) Island Groups, and all other outlying Pacific Islands including the Daito (Ohigashi or Gagari) Islands Group, and Parace Vela (Okino-tori), Kercus (Kinami-tori) and Canges (Nakano-tori) Islands, and

(c) the Kurile (Chishima) Islands, the Habomai (Hapomazo) Islands Group (including Suisho, Yuri, Aki-yuri, Shibotsu and Taraku Islands) and Shikotan Island.

5. The definition of Japan contained in this directive shall also apply to all future directives, memoranda and orders from this Headquarters unless otherwise specified therein.

6. Nothing in this directive shall be construed as an indication of Allied policy relating to the ultimate determination of the minor islands referred to in Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration.

Islands mentioned in (a), other than the Liancourt rocks, were renounced by Japan at Treaty of San Francisco. Japanese sovereignty which is mentioned in (b) were eventually recovered. Those mentioned in (c), for the most part, remain in Russian occupation (though disputed by Japan). The instruction stated that "nothing in this directive shall be construed as an indication of Allied policy relating to the ultimate determination of the minor islands referred to in Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration."

A similar description is seen in Article 5 of SCAP Instruction #1033 that became the origin of the MacArthur line.Who Owns Tok-Do/Takeshima? Should These Islets Affect the Maritime Boundary Between Korea and Japan?, Jon M. Van Dykehttp://www.hawaii.edu/law/site-content/faculty-staff/faculty-administration-profiles/faculty/jon-m-van-dyke/index.html, p. 49.SCAPIN-1033, Toron Talker

3. (b) Japanese vessels or personnel thereof will not approached closer than twelve (12) miles to Takeshima (37°15 North Latitude, 131°53 East Longitude) nor have any contact with said island.

5. The present authorization is not an expression of Allied policy relative to ultimate determination of national jurisdiction, international boundaries or fishing rights in the area concerned or in any other area.

In 1951, during the Korean War, Lieutenant General John B. Coulter affiliated with the U.S. Army in Korea requested and received permission from South Korea to use the islets for military exercises.See http://www.geocities.com/mlovmo/page8.html

South Korea is interpreting SCAPIN677 as a territorial order which excludes the Japanese sovereignty because it is being written as "Japan is defined" in clause 3. However, the U.S. Department of State denied the Korean claim based on SCAPIN677 in a note to the American embassy in Korea.

The Korean claim, based on SCAPIN677 of January 29, 1946, which suspended Japanese administration of various island areas, include Takeshima (Liancourt Rocks), did not preclude Japan from exercising sovereignty over this area permanently. A later SCAPIN, No.1776 of September 16, 1947 desinated th islets as a bombing range for the Far East Air Force and further provided that use of the range would be made only after notification through Japanese civil authorities to the inhabitants of the Oki Island and certaion ports on Western Honsu.

Treatment of Liancourt Rocks in the Treaty of San Francisco :

The negotiations involving the fate of former Japanese territories was a long, drawn-out process. A draft was made on June 14, 1951 after the conference with U.S. and Britain, an article concerning the Korean territory is as follows.United States Department of State / Foreign relations of the United States, 1951. Asia and the Pacific (in two parts) Volume VI, Part 1 (1951) "Revised United States-United Kingdom Draft of a Japanese Peace Treaty June 14,1951"http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/FRUS/FRUS-idx?type=turn&entity=FRUS.FRUS1951v06p1.p1138&isize=M The REFERENCE No.517 Tsukamoto Takaship47 19516614a195198

Article 2: (a) Japan, recognizing the independence of Korea, renounces all right, title and claim to Korea, including the islands of Quelpart Jeju-do, Port Hamilton Geomun-do, and Dagelet Ulleung-do.

The Republic of Korea requested the Department of State to insert Liancourt Rocks in the territory that Japan renounced on Jury 19, 1951. However, this Korean request was rejected by the Rusk Documents.

Treaty of San Francisco was signed on September 8, 1951. In the end there was no mention of the Liancourt Rocks in the San Francisco Peace Treaty and article 2 was not changed from the draft on June 14, 1951. The CIA's Daily Digest of November 30, 1951, reported Japan decided to abandon the islets after the signature. However, no document of this action by the Japanese Government have been discovered. The treaty came into effect on April 28, 1952.

On July 26 1952 the U.S. Government made a security agreement with Japan listing the island as a "facility of the Japanese Government" because it judged the as Liancourt Rocks is Japanese territory in accordance to the rusk documents The action of the United States-Japan Joint Committee in designating these rocks as a facility of the Japanese Government is therefore justified.http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Confidential_Security_Information_about_Liancourt_Rocks. In the negotiation on the bombing area between U.S. government and ROK, the U.S. government send a diplomatic document to Korea and rejected the Korean claim on December 4, 1952.http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Possible_Methods_of_Resolving_Liancourt_Rocks_Dispute_between_Japan_and_ROK2

"The Embassy has taken note of the statement contained in the Ministry's Note that' Dokdo Island (Liancourt Rocks) .....is a part of the territory of the Republic of Korea.' The United States Government's understanding of the territorial status of this island was stated in assistant Secretary dated August 10,1951."http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Possible_Methods_of_Resolving_Liancourt_Rocks_Dispute_between_Japan_and_ROK

In 1954, the United States cautioned against South Korea again, the ambassador saying in the Van Fleet report that, "When the Treaty of Peace with Japan was being drafted, the Republic of Korea asserted its claims to (the Liancourt Rocks) but 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,"see Wikisource

Korean lawyers assert "..The rational interpretation of all the post-war instruments would lead to the conclusion that, unless any express decision provides otherwise, SCAPIN No.677 would take precedence. The Peace Treaty's mere omission of mentioning Tokdo as part of Korea's territory does not amount to the cession of Tokdo to Japan. And a fair interpretation would be that the islands mentioned in Article 2 of the Peace Treaty should be illustrative rather than enumerative given the large number of islands scattered around the Korean Peninsula..."PDFfile P22 Hee Kwon Park and Joeong In Rae Koreans also insist, The Treaty of San Francisco and the Rusk documents has no appliance to Korean laws, as foreign resolutions take no effect into Korean law. As of December 12, 1948, South Korea was recognized as an independent republic by the UN.

Japanese claim that Liancourt Rocks was left in Japan because it is not described in the SF treaty as an renouncement territory by Japan. "If Liancourt Rocks away from Dagelet at 90km is made a Korean territory, it is necessary to be described clearly in the treaty like Port Hamilton.Prof. Serita Kentarop159 90 CASE CONCERNING SOVEREIGNTY OVER PULAU LIGITAN AND PULAU SIPADAN by ICJ article64 p36 The Court further recalls that it stated above that the words "the islets belonging thereto" can only be interpreted as referring to the small islands lying in the immediate vicinity of the three islands which are mentioned by name, and not to islands which are kmlocated at a distance of more than 40 nautical miles(75km)http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/102/7714.pdfThough Japan was a defeated country, her sovereignty cant be transferred without the consent of Japan in international law.ref>(Prof. Daijyudo Kanae)p149 (It is natural that the defeated country is not restrained about a matter outside the her consent though the peace treaty is what the victorious country compels it to the defeated country.)PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW by Ian Brownlie The very considerable derogation of sovereignty involved in the assumption of powers of government by foreign states, without the consent of Germany, did not constitute a transfer of sovereignty. A similar case, recognized by the customary law for a very long time, is that of the belligerent occupation of enemy territory in time of war. It has been proven that the many records of the U.S. looks like Rusk documents did not include Liancourt Rocks in the treaty as Japanese renounce territory. ICJ judged that the decision in 1939 of Britain who is a suzerain of Qatar and Bahrain restrained the two countries in the judicial precedentCASE CONCERNING MARITIME DELIMITATIONAND TERRITORIAL QUESTIONSBETWEEN QATAR AND BAHRAIN by ICJ; See article 107, 146, 147 and 148 http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/7027.pdf . A scholar is pointing out that the judgment and records of the U.S. that initiated the SF treaty has significance effect same as this ICJ judgment.Prof. Serita Kentaro200611p273-274 ((Introduction of judicial precedent of ICJ and Rusk documents)..Then the records of the above-mentioned of the U.S. that initiated the Allies have significance effect. If Takeshima is discussed in International Court of Justice, from the judicial precedent, the possibility to be judged that the judgment of the United States restrains the Japan-South Korea is high. The Korean specialist will also think so.)"

Today, the United States avoids the issue, hoping it can be solved by Japan and Korea amicably.See http://seoul.usembassy.gov/march_16_2005.html

Armed confrontations :

South Korean President Syngman Rhee's (Syngman Rhee line) declaration of January 18, 1952, three months before the Treaty of San Francisco came into effect, included the Liancourt Rocks as a Korean territory that was protested by Japan and unofficially criticized by the U.S. and Taiwan.(ko) " 1952 ", Dong-a Ilbo, 2006/01/18(ko) ", " " ", Segye Ilbo, 2006-03-27. See also Report of Van Fleet Mission to Far East

On January 12, 1953, South Korea ordered its army to enforce its claim on the islets, and on April 20, 1953 South Korean volunteer coastguards set up camp. There has been some controversy regarding whether all of the 33 decorated members of the voluntary coastguard participated in the 1953 expedition.(ko)" , ", OhmyNews, 2006-10-30. The Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea found that 16 of the 33 were not participants in the expedition.(ko) " ", mbn/Naver News 2007-04-19

According to Japan, five Japanese fishermen were shot to death, and 3,929 Japanese fishermen and 328 fishing boats were abducted and detained in South Korea as hostages for crossing the line between 1952 and 1965. The fishermen were released in 1965 in return for the release of 472 Koreans imprisoned in Japan.

On June 27, 1953, two Japanese Coast Guard vessels briefly landed and erected a territorial post on the islets. Several armed skirmishes followed, leading to the sinking of a Japanese ship by Korean mortar fire on July 12, 1953. Similar incidents occurred on April 21, 1954 and August 24, 1954.

International Court of Justice :

The Japanese government has been protesting over the domain matter since October 1954, and has repeatedly proposed arbitration action in the International Court of JusticeSee http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/takeshima/position.html Takeshima Position , but to date the government of South Korea has refused. In the official Korean standpoint, there is no reason whatsoever for Korea to bring the issue to the International Court of Justice when Dokdo clearly belongs to Korea from the perspective of history, geography, and even international law. Some claim that the reason why Japan wants the issue taken to the International Court of Justice is simple: Japan would gain an enormous political advantage by standing at the Court on equal footing with Korea. Since Japan has neither sovereignty nor control over the island, it has nothing to lose even if it goes to Court. It is interesting to note, however, that China has recently intensified its claims to the Senkaku Islands/Diaoyutai currently under the effective control of Japan, but Japan has not demanded that the issue be brought to the International Court of Justice. History of and Sovereignty over Dokdo, Korea.net http://www.korea.net/News/Issues/issueDetailView.asp?board_no=15896 After the armed skirmishes in 1954, the South Korean military built a lighthouse and a helicopter landing pad on the islets, which it has maintained ever since, despite repeated protests by Japan.http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/liancourt.htm, globalsecurity

In 1954, the United States recommended that South Korea accept the offer for arbitration, the ambassador saying in the Van Fleet report that, "Our position has been that the dispute might properly be referred to the International Court of Justice and this suggestion has been informally conveyed to the Republic of Korea."see Wikisource

Recent developments :

The dispute occasionally resurfaces, such as when South Korea built a wharf on the islets in 1996 and declared them a Natural Monument in 2002, spurred by a controversial Japanese textbook that called that "South Korea is illegally occupying the islets"."(EDITORIAL) Motives behind textbooks", The Korea Herald, 2005-04-07.

In June 2005, a South Korean official guideline recommended referring to the Liancourt Rocks in the singular form island to reflect the island character, instead of islands, islet(s) or rock(s).See Official guideline

In the same year, Japan's Shimane prefecture designated February 22 Takeshima Day, to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Japan's claim to the islets and boost public interest in Japan about the dispute."On the occasion of Takeshima Day", Takeshima-Return our islands and our sea!, Shimane Prefecture, 2007.04.19. In response, the Korean municipality of Masan passed the Daemado Day bill, commemorating General Yi Jong Mu's conquest of Tsushima Island in 1419. However, the action was receieved as "inappropiate" by the South Korean government."Dispute over Dokdo brings in weekend rallies, campaigns", The Korea Herald, 2005-03-21. " ", The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (South Korea), 2005.3.19. See also :ko: Japan's commemoration of "Takeshima Day" has brought forth a huge increase in anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea."Dispute over Dokdo brings in weekend rallies, campaigns", The Korea Herald, 2005-03-21.

In 2004 South Korea issued a set of stamps depicting the wildlife of the rocks, implying an ownership claim. The Japanese government formally protested this action as a violation of the spirit of the Universal Postal Union charter."Plan to Make Dokdo Stamps Riles Japanese", Chosun Ilbo, Jan. 8, 2004. Similar stamp series had been printed in 2002 and 1954. The stamp dispute was allegedly linked to a series of denial of service attacks and other Internet campaigns between Koreans and Japanese.See Jeju Times

2006 Japanese maritime survey :

In April 2006, Japan dispatched two ships to the islets to conduct a maritime survey near the islets, without formally notifying South Korea. In response, the South Korean government dispatched eighteen patrol ships to the islets, warning the Japanese government not to go through with its plans.See Hankooki Times South Korean foreign minister Ban Ki-Moon emphasized that Seoul was "preparing counter-measures for all scenarios", leading some in the media to speculate that the South Korean military may try to capture the Japanese ships.See Japan-South Korea Island Dispute, Yahoo! News, April 19, 2006

South Korea maintained that the proposed maritime survey would encroach on its EEZ surrounding the islets, and that such a move must be accompanied by advance notice according to international law.See Hankooki Times. For its part, Japan denied any attempt to enter the EEZ, stating that all activities would take place inside its own waters. Because of the competing claims to the islets, both Japan and South Korea have claimed the area in which the hydrological survey would be conducted as part of their EEZ. On April 19 2006, The Korea Times reported that South Korean officials viewed Japanese actions as an attempt to bring the dispute over the islets to an international court.See Hankooki Times. On April 20, 2006, the Korean government refused to take the matter to the International Court of Justice. ", ` ' ", Yonhap/Naver News, 2006-04-20. The Japanese officials stated that the maritime survey ship would not enter the area near the islets on April 20, as previously planned, but it would still maintain that no diplomatic agreement has been reached between the two governments. " , ", Yonhap/Naver News, 2006-04-20.

At least one of the main reasons for the maritime survey arose from a naming dispute between Japan and South Korea. Several of the features on the sea floor within South Korea's claimed EEZ carry Japanese names, which in turn led to South Korea's plan to propose Korean names for the features at an international conference in Germany over the naming of submarine features."Japanese Nomenclature Encroaches on Korean Waters", Chosun Ilbo, Apr. 18, 2006."MAPPING SEABED TO BOOST ISLES CLAIM: Survey flap said boils down to name game", Japan Times, April 20, 2006.

An agreement to end the dispute was eventually reached during meetings on April 22 and April 23 between the South Korean and Japanese vice foreign ministers, in which Japan agreed to suspend the survey, while Korea agreed not to push forward its proposal "until an appropriate time," although the Japanese side interpreted this as the period of the IHO meeting in June."Much Fighting Talks and a Disappointing Result", Chosun Ilbo, Apr. 23, 2006.

2006 South Korean maritime survey :

On 5 July 2006 a South Korean survey ship entered the disputed waters around the islets. The Japanese foreign ministry called the survey "extremely regrettable", and lodged a complaint with the South Korean ambassador in Tokyo."Japan asks S Korea to end survey", BBC News, 5 July 2006.

2006 Japanese radioactive waste survey :

On 2 August 2006, the chief cabinet secretary of Japan, Shinzo Abe, announced that Japan had indicated through the newly proposed bilateral mutual notification procedures to South Korea of its intention to have the Japan Coast Guard conduct a radioactive waste survey from late August to early September to examine the effect of waste that was dumped in waters near Vladivostok in Russia's Far Eastern region by the former Soviet Union. The survey area contains a couple of points located in the South Korean-claimed EEZ near the disputed islets while the specific locations were not clarified. Abe also said Japan will conduct a survey in response to South Korea's survey in the Japan-claimed EEZ in early July, 2006."Japan informs ROK of intended survey around disputed islets", Xinhua News Agency, 2006-08-02

Mutual notification talks :

The latest surveys prompted an agreement to discuss notification procedures for both nations. Reportedly, mandating notification of each other whenever undertaking a study or survey in the disputed area where their claimed EEZs overlap will be discussed. This marks a step forward, as South Korea has in the past refused to discuss this issue, which Japan had proposed earlier."Japan, S. Korea to discuss notification procedure for EEZ", ANTARA, 08/11/06.

Other controversies :

Xbox Live Controversy :

In the recent Xbox 360 Fall update, controversy was sparked when the Xbox live social networking feature allowed the Korean name for the Rocks to be entered as the place where the Xbox player lived, but did not recognize the Japanese name. This caused some minor outrage in Japan. Microsoft apologized for the error, and Japanese name was later added. MS , The Kukmin Daily/Empas news, 2007-12-14.

Map Gallery :

;Modern maps Image:Liancourt-rocks distances.png|Distances. Liancourt Rocks are located at 37°14N, 131°52E and Ulleungdo appears at 37°30N, 130°52E, west of Liancourt Rocks. Image:Uleungdo Jukdo Liancourt Rocks.png|Ulleungdo and the small neighboring island, Jukdo located in 2 km east. Jukdo is larger than the total area of Liancourt Rocks.

Image:Hachidou2.jpg|Paldo Chongdo. A 1530 map of Korea that includes two islands to the east: Usando and Ulleungdo (Usando is to the west of Ulleungdo)

Image:DaehanJeondo.jpg|Daehan Jeondo (part, 1899, Korea) Showing Usando slightly northeast to Ulleungdo, both drawn just west of 37°40N, 130°30E (whole images http://www.occidentalism.org/?p=670 http://ullungdo.com/map/image/12.jpg).

Image:Part of Kaisei Nihon Yochi Rotei Zenzu.jpg|Kaisei Nihon Yochi Rotei Zenzu (part, 1775, Japan). Matsushima () appears at 37°50N, 131°40E with Takeshima (), aka. Isotakeshima ( ) at around 37°80N, 131°00E.

Image:Japan-military-telegraph.jpg|A Japanese Naval map of June 1905 during Russo-Japanese War shows Japanese military telegraph lines between Japan and Korea. The Liancourt Rocks () Ulleungdo (Matsushima, ), and Oki islands line (marked as planned) was instead installed directly to Matsue.

Image:Dokdo-navymap3.jpg|Immediately following the Battle of Tsushima the Japanese Warship Hashidate surveyed the islets again in June 1905. The result was this survey map showing Navy's plans for a watchtower, communications post and observation point on the east islet.

Image:Yamanaka-surveymap.jpg|In November 1904, three months before Japanese incorporation, Yamanaka Shibakichi of the Japanese Warship Tsushima drew this survey map of Liancourt Rocks. It shows suitable watchtower locations and visibility ranges.

Image:Anyongbok-doc15.jpg|This image is the Japanese records of Anyongboks chart of The Eight Provinces of Korea. Takeshima () and Matsushima () are shown as part of Koreas Gangwan Province ()

References :

External links :

"Day on the Dokdo Islands", an American's photographs of his trip to the islets.

Official sites :

Pro-Korea :

http://www.stanford.edu/group/sjeaa/journal51/japan2.pdf Tokdo or Takeshima? The International Law of Territorial Acquisition in the Japan-Korea Island Dispute, Sean Fern, Stanford Journal of East Asian Affairs, Volume 5 Number 1 (Winter 2005), pp.7889 Third party analysis of dispute in an academic journal
Legal Legal Issues Related to Sovereignty over Dokdo and Its Maritime Boundary(Jan 2007), a William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, USA Third party analysis of dispute in an academic journal
The historical facts of the Dokdo - Takeshima Island dispute between Korea and Japan Third party analysis of dispute
dodkdonews.net: News updates on the disputed islets
The Territorial Dispute Over Dokdo, compiled by Mark S. Lovmo Third party analysis of dispute
"North Korea Denounces Japanese Territorial Claims on Dokdo", Yonhap via Yahoo news
Northeast Asian History Foundation in Korea

Pro-Japan :

Lies, Half-truths, & Dokdo Video, Part 110, Maps Part 112 compiled by Gerry-Bevers.

zh-classical: