Liancourt Rocks Native name: Dokdo/Takeshima
Geography
Location	Sea of Japan (East Sea)
Coordinates	37°14′30″N, 131°52′″E Coordinates: 37°14′30″N, 131°52′″E
Total islands	37
Major islands	2
Area	187,450 sq meters
Highest point	169 meters
Administration
Japan
Prefecture	Shimane (Okinoshima Town, Oki District, Shimane)
South Korea
Province	North Gyeongsang (Ulleung County)

The Liancourt Rocks (Japanese:Takeshima (竹島, Takeshima^?) "bamboo island"; Korean: Dokdo(독도/獨島) "solitary island") are a group of islets in the East Sea (Sea of Japan), whose ownership is disputed between Japan and South Korea.^[1] South Korea currently occupies the islands, an action that continues to draw protests from Japan. ^[2] The name "Liancourt Rocks" comes from the French whaling ship Liancourt which charted the islets in 1849. Today, South Korea classifies the islets as a part of Ulleung County, North Gyeongsang Province, while Japan classifies them as part of Okinoshima, in Oki District, Shimane Prefecture.There is "Agreement Respecting the Disposition of Former Japanese Territories" which lucidly classifies "Liancourt Rocks" as Korean province. The kori was the currency of Kutch until 1947. ... Takeshima(竹島) is a Japanese name for various islands, and also a Japanese surname. ... Image File history File links Location-of-Liancourt-rocks-en. ... The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bordered by Japan, Korea and Russia. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Shimane Prefecture ) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Okinoshima (隠岐の島町; -chō) is a town located in Shimane, Japan. ... Oki ) is a district located in Shimane, Japan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang) is a province in eastern South Korea. ... Ulleung County (Ulleung-gun) is a county in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. ... Japanese writing Kanji Kana Hiragana Katakana Hentaigana Manyōgana Uses Furigana Okurigana Rōmaji   ) are the Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system along with hiragana (平仮名), katakana (片仮名), and the Arabic numerals. ... Hiragana ) is a Japanese syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system, along with katakana and kanji; the Latin alphabet is also used in some cases. ... Japanese writing Kanji Kana Hiragana Katakana Hentaigana Manyōgana Uses Furigana Okurigana Rōmaji The Hepburn romanization system ) is named after James Curtis Hepburn, who used it to transcribe the sounds of the Japanese language into the Latin alphabet in the third edition of his Japanese–English dictionary, published... Jamo redirects here. ... Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. ... The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language romanization system in South Korea. ... McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language romanization systems, along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which replaced (a modified) McCune-Reischauer as the official romanization system in South Korea in 2000. ... Mōkōlea Rock in Kailua Bay, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, 2. ... East Sea may refer to: East China Sea, a marginal sea east of China, where it is called Dōng HÇŽi (/). See also Donghai (Chinese mythology). ... A territorial dispute is a disagreement over the possession/control of land between two or more states, or over the possession/control of land by one state after it has conquered it from a former state no longer currently recognized by the occupying power. ... Ulleung County (Ulleung-gun) is a county in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. ... Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang) is a province in eastern South Korea. ... Okinoshima (隠岐の島町; -chō) is a town located in Shimane, Japan. ... Oki (隠岐郡; -gun) is a district located in Shimane, Japan. ... Shimane Prefecture ) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ...

Geography

Map of Liancourt Rocks.

The Liancourt Rocks are composed mainly of two islets, 150 meters apart^[3] (Nishi-jima and Higashi-jima in Japanese, Seodo and Dongdo in Korean; both literally meaning western island 西島 and eastern island 東島, respectively). The western islet is the larger of the two islets. Altogether, there are about 90 islets and reefs,^[4] volcanic rocks formed in the Cenozoic era.^[5] A total of 37 of these islets are recognized as permanent land.^[4] In 2006, a geologist reported that the islets formed 4.5 million years ago and are quickly eroding.^{[citation needed][6]} Image File history File links Download high resolution version (748x683, 78 KB) Summary Description: Map of the Liancourt Rocks, showing the two main islets and some of the minor ones. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (748x683, 78 KB) Summary Description: Map of the Liancourt Rocks, showing the two main islets and some of the minor ones. ... Ignimbrite is a deposit of a pyroclastic flow. ... The Cenozoic Era (pronounced ); sometimes Caenozoic Era or Cainozoic Era (in the United Kingdom), meaning new life (Greek (kainos), new, and (zoe), life), is the most recent of the three classic geological eras. ...

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.^{[citation needed]} The western islet is about 88,640 square meters in area; the eastern islet about 73,300 square meters.^[4] Liancourt Rocks are located at about 131°52′ East longitude and about 37°14′ North latitude.^[4] The western islet is located at 37°14′31″N, 131°51′55″E and the eastern islet is located at 37°14′27″N, 131°52′10″E. The islets are 217 km (135 mi) from mainland Korea and 250 km (150 mi) from mainland Japan.^[3] 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.^[3][4] Ulleung-do is a Korean island in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). ... Oki (隠岐) is the name of a group of islands (隠岐諸島 Oki shotō) in the Sea of Japan, 40 to 80 km from the coast of Honshu. ...

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.^[5][7]

Economy and tourism

As of 2005, only 26 Japanese citizens have registered the islets as the location of their registry,^[8] while thousands of Koreans do the same.^[9] 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." Only two people are actual physical residents. The Korean government subsidizes their living there in order to justify a claim of habitation.^[10][11][9] A koseki (戸籍) is a family registry. ...

There is a regular ferry service from Ulleung-do to Liancourt Rocks.^[12][4][13] There were 1,507 and 1,597 recorded tourists in 2003 and 2004 respectively.^[13] 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.^[13] Ulleung-do is a Korean island in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). ...

Although the islets themselves are barely habitable, the Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding them has rich fishing grounds and possible reserves of natural gas.^[14] As of 2006, the expected reserves have not been found.^[4] A wide variety of fish as well as seaweed, kelp, sea slugs, and clams are located around the islets.^[7] Major fishery catches in the area are squid, Alaskan pollock, codfish, and octopus.^[7][4] There are 102 species of seaweed, although many of these have no economic value.^[4] Sea areas in international rights Under the law of the sea, an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources. ... Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish by hooking, trapping, or gathering. ... For other uses, see Natural gas (disambiguation). ... Ascophyllum nodosum exposed to the sun in Nova Scotia, Canada Dead Mans Fingers (Codium fragile) off Massachusetts coast For the band, see; Seaweed (band) For the rock musician, see; Seaweed (musician) Seaweeds are any of a large number of marine benthic algae. ... For other uses, see Squid (disambiguation). ... Species Pollachius pollachius Pollachius virens Pollock (or pollack, pronounced the same and listed first in most UK and US dictionaries) is the common name used for either of the two species of marine fish in the Pollachius genus. ... Species Gadus morhua Gadus macrocephalus Gadus ogac Cod is the common name for the genus Gadus of fishes, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name of a variety of other fishes. ... For other uses, see Octopus (disambiguation). ...

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 (1868–1912).^[15] Until the 1950s, sea lions were observed on Liancourt Rocks by voluntary guards.^[16] For other uses, see Sea Lion (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Zalophus japonicus (Peters, 1866) The Japanese Sea Lion (Zalophus japonicus or Zalophus californianus japonicus) is thought to have gone extinct in the 1950s. ... Species Many, see species section. ... The Meiji period ), or Meiji era, denotes the 45-year reign of Emperor Meiji, running, in the Gregorian calendar, from 23 October 1868 to 30 July 1912. ...

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.^[13] Eddystone Lighthouse, one of the first wavewashed lighthouses For other uses, see Lighthouse (disambiguation). ...

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.^[17] Nuptial is the adjective of wedding. It is used for example in zoology to denote plumage, coloration, behavior, etc related to or occurring in the mating season. ...

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.^[3][7] Overall, the climate is warm and humid, and heavily influenced by warm sea currents. Precipitation is high throughout the year (annual average—1324 mm), with occasional snowfall.^[7] Fog is also a common sight. In the summer, southernly winds dominate.^[7] 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.^[7]

Ecology

The islets are volcanic rocks, with only a thin layer of soil and moss.^[4] 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.^[3] The islets are too small to have any significant amount of fresh water. Ignimbrite is a deposit of a pyroclastic flow. ...

In the early 1970s trees and some types of flowers were planted.^[3] Trees are required under international law for the islets to be recognized as natural islands rather than reefs.^[13][7]

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.^[7] Binomial name Oceanodroma furcata (Gmelin, 1789) The Fork-tailed Storm-petrel (Oeanodroma furcata) is a small seabird of the storm-petrel family Hydrobatidae. ... Binomial name Calonectris leucomelas (Temminck, 1835) The Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas) is a species of seabird. ... Binomial name Larus crassirostris Vieillot, 1818 The Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) is a medium-sized (46cm) gull. ...

In 1999, the islets were designated a special environmental protected area by the South Korean government.^[3] They predate any Korean volcanic islands.^[7]

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.^[18][19][20] The genera are Dokdonella koreensis,^[21] Dokdonia donghaenensis,^[22] and Donghae dokdoensis.^[23] The newly identified species are Virgilbacillus dokdoensis,^[24] Maribacter dokdoensis,^[25] Marimonas dokdoensis,^[26] Polaribacter dokdoensis,^[27], Sphingomonas dokdonensis^[28], Isoptericola dokdonensis,^[29] Porphyrobacter dokdoensis,^[30] Stenotrophomonas dokdonensis^[31] and Variovorax dokdonensis.^[32]

Strategic location

The islets are of importance not only for economic reasons, but also for military reasons ^{[citation needed]}. 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.^[4] Economics (deriving from the Greek words οίκω [okos], house, and νέμω [nemo], rules hence household management) is the social science that studies the allocation of scarce resources to satisfy unlimited wants. ... Combatants Russian Empire Principality of Montenegro [1] Empire of Japan Commanders Emperor Nicholas II Aleksey Kuropatkin Stepan Makarov â€  Emperor Meiji Oyama Iwao Heihachiro Togo The Russo–Japanese War (Japanese: Nichi-Ro Sensō, Russian: Russko-Yaponskaya Voyna, Chinese: RìézhànzhÄ“ng, February 10, 1904–September 5, 1905) was a conflict...

History of the territorial dispute

The territorial dispute over the islets focuses on the legitimacy of Japan's incorporation of the islets into Shimane Prefecture in 1905, disagreements over whether Korea ever had effective administrative control over the islets before this date, and the status of the islets following Japan's defeat in the Second World War. Shimane Prefecture ) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

Scholars 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. ^[33]

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.^[34] We dont have an article called Samguk sagi Start this article Search for Samguk sagi in. ... The nation of Usan-guk occupied Ulleung-do and the adjacent islands (including the Liancourt Rocks) during the Korean Three Kingdoms period. ... Ulleung-do is a Korean island in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). ... Silla (also spelled Shilla, traditional dates 57 BCE - 935 CE) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. ... The Three Kingdoms Period of Korea (hangul: 삼국시대) featured the three rival kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium CE. Historians claim that the Three Kingdoms period ran from the 1st century BCE (specifically 57 BC) until...

Korea suggests that the rocks were called Usan-do and were a part of Usan-guk, based on later Joseon dynasty records such as the Yeojiji and Man'gi yoram. However, Japanese historians reject the theory that the Liancourt Rocks were a part of Usan-guk.^{[citation needed]} Usan-do (于山島) is the island where the description comes out to in a clause of 1417 first for Taejong in 17 of The record of Taejong(太宗実録) in the Korean history book. ...

The Joseon and Edo Period

Taejong-sillok (태종실록 Annals for King Taejong) recorded that 60 people were living on Yusan-guk-do (유산국 流山國, Yusan-state-island) and in 1412, and 86 people living on Usan-do as a result of the field investigation by a government official in 1417.^[35] Taejong was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great. ...

The Sejong Sillok (세종실록 "Chronicle of King Sejong", 1432) mentions Usan-do ,^[36][37] but interpretation of the context is disputed. Korean scholars interpret the text as: "Usan-do (우산도 于山島) and Mulung-do (울릉도 武陵島, 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]", and consider it as evidence that Usan-do refers to the Liancourt Rocks, the only island that is visible from Ulleungdo only in clear weather.^[37] Japanese scholars interpret the latter part as "come into view from mainland Korea" from the rule of the Korean topographical record.^[38] Some others argue that Usan-do refers to Juk-do locating 4 km east of Ulleungdo and doubled Ulleungdo. (The Chinese characters 竹島 are read as Juk-do in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese.) Birth name Sejong the Great (May 6, 1397 – May 18, 1450, r. ... Usan-do (于山島) is the island where the description comes out to in a clause of 1417 first for Taejong in 17 of The record of Taejong(太宗実録) in the Korean history book. ... Ulleungdo (also spelled Ulreungdo) is a South Korean island in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). ... Uljin County (Uljin-gun) is a county in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. ...

The Don'guk yeoji seungnam (동국여지승람 "Augmented Survey of the Geography 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, Don'guk yoji sungnam also mentions that the tree and the beach could be clearly seen on a fine day and thus there is another theory that Usan-do and Ulleung-do are the same island, as trees cannot grow on Liancourt Rocks and the two islands are 90 km apart. Moreover, Korea interpreted the same record as the record that saw Ulleungdo from the peninsula in 1694 when the dispute of possession of Ulleungdo was occurred with Japan.^[39] The 1531 revision of this book includes the 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 rock is to the east of Ulleungdo). Gangwon-do is a province of South Korea, with its capital at Chuncheon. ... Image File history File links Hachidou2. ...

Man'gi yoram ("Handbook of State Affairs") from 1808 quotes the earlier Yeojiji ("Gazette") that Ulleungdo and Usando all belonged to Usan'guk and Usando is what Japanese call Matsushima, i.e., present Liancourt Rocks.^[40]

On the Korean cartographs [[:

From the early fifteenth century to the aftermath of the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598), the government in Korea was unable and unwilling to maintain a civilian population on both Ulleung-do and Usan-do. According to the Taejong Sillok ("Chronicle of King Taejong"), the mainland government forcibly evacuated the islands during his reign as according to the "vacant island policy"^[41] and thus the islets was 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. Combatants Korea under the Joseon Dynasty, China under the Ming Dynasty, Jianzhou Jurchens Japan under Toyotomi Hideyoshi Commanders Korea King Seonjo Crown Prince Gwanghae Yi Sun-sin†, Gwon Yul, Yu Seong-ryong, Yi Eok-gi†, Won Gyun†, Kim Myeong-won, Yi Il, Sin Rip†, Gwak Jae-u, Kim Si-min...

Takeshima Tōkai Yuraiki Bassho Hikae, written by Ōya Kyuemon, records that in 1618 the Tokugawa Shogunate granted the Ōya and Murakami families of Yonago fishing rights, and in 1661, feudal tenure, of "Takeshima", which then referred to Ulleung-do. On the way to Ulleung-do, Japanese fishermen sometimes used the islets, then called in Japanese "Matsushima" (松島, "Matsushima"^?), as an intermediate port of call. From the Korean point of view, the grants were invalid because the islets were Korean territory.^[42] The Tokugawa shogunate or Tokugawa bakufu (徳川幕府) (also known as the Edo bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship of Japan established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family until 1868. ...

The earliest record for Japan's claim on Liancourt Rocks comes from Japanese records that the islets were utilized since 1618.^[43] This is a contradiction of the terra nullius policy adopted later by Shimane Prefecture in 1904 (noted below).

In 1677, the Japanese record Onshu shicho goki ("Records on Observations in Oki Province") was compiled by Saito Hessen in 1667. Saito was a retainer of the daimyo of Izumo (sesshu) and at his lord's behest made an observation trip to Oki Island whereupon he submitted these records to his lord. The record reports the following:

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 "州" marks the northwestern boundary of Japan.

• There are two interpretations abour "州". One is Oki prefecture and another is a Takeshima(Ulleungdo).^[44]

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.^[45]

In 1695 the Shogunate inquired to Tottori (Shimane Prefecture) if Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and Matsushima (Dokdo) were part of Inbashu or Hoki districts where the Oyas and Murakawas of Yonago resided.

The Shogunate inquired: Since when has Takeshima (Ulleungdo) as part of Inaba District (因幡)and Hoki District (伯耆), become under these two's jurisdiction? Is it before or after the year 1632, when the ancestors was given land? Besides Takeshima (Ulleungdo) are there any other islands that are within the two areas jurisdiction?

Tottori (Shimane) replied: Takeshima does not belong to Inaba District (因幡) nor Hoki District (伯耆). There are no other islands belonging to the two districts including Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and Matsushima (Dokdo)

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. An Yong-bok(안용복) and Pak Eo-dun(박어둔) 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.^[46] 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;^[47] Japanese scholars, however, insist that this testimony is An's lie, because he did not go to Edo where the Shogunate lived, and the Shogunate demanded Koreans prohibited from going to Ulleung-do.^[48][49] 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): Busan Metropolitan City, also known as Pusan[1] is the largest port city in the Republic of Korea. ... Ulsan, a metropolitan city in the south-east of South Korea, facing the Sea of Japan (East Sea). ... Otani may refer to: Otani University New Otani Art Museum or a number people with the last name Otani Category: ... The Tottori Sand Dunes. ...

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. (Korea claimed that Japanese Takeshima and Ullengdo is another island first)^[50]

2. Japanese are forbidden henceforth to make passage to Takeshima for the Japan-Korea friendship because the island is useless.^[51]

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

Though Tottori clan reported to the shogunate about Matsushima (Liancourt Rocks) and Takeshima (Ulleung-do),^[52] the shogunate did not order a prohibition of Japanese going to Matsuhima (Liancourt Rocks). On the other hand, there are no records which show the Korean government discussed an island other than Ulleung-do and knew about the Liancourt rocks. In the diplomatic negotiation between Japan (Tsushima clan) and the Chosun government, they never discussed the Liancourt Rocks.

In 1696, according to the Sukjong Sillok, An sailed to Ulleung-do and the Liancourt Rocks 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 (Tokdo) and strayed onto Takeshima (Ullungdo) while fishing and would return. An fulminated at this, demanding to know why the Japanese were, in An's view, living on a Korean island. Arriving in Japan, An had the Tokugawa Shogunate reconfirm in writing that the islands were Korean possessions.^[53][54]

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 (1738--1793) and published in 1785. The map shows international boundaries and foreign countries in different colors: Korea is in yellow and Japan in green. On the map Ullungdo and the Liancourt rocks are shown, at the correct latitude and longitude, in yellow. Alongside the islands Hayashi wrote, "Korea's possessions."^[55]

In the Dainihonzu ("Map of Great Japan"), another map attached to An Illustrated General Survey of Three Countries, Hiyashi 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. Those islands are not identified by name, but are shown in yellow in their accurate positions and described as "Korea's possessions."

Regardless, some have commented that any remaining historical documents are so ambiguous that it is not easy to interpret which recorded term refers to which island.

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.^[56]
• 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.^[57]

In 1849, a French whaler from Le Havre by the name of Le Liancourt, named the islets "Rochers de Liancourt" in 1849.^[4] 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."^[3] The crew of the oceanographic research vessel Princesse Alice, of Albert Grimaldi (later Prince Albert I of Monaco) pose while flensing a catch. ... Le Havre is a city in Normandy, northern France, on the English Channel, at the mouth of the Seine. ...

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:

竹島松島朝鮮附屬 "How Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and Matsushima became Korean Possessions"

"..Matsushima (松島) is a neighbor island of Takeshima (竹島) 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 (松島) 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.

On October 25, 1900, the Korean Empire issued Korean Government Imperial Ordinance 41,^[58] incorporating the islands of Ulleung-do, Juk-do (竹島), and Seok-do (石島) into Ulleung County. The Korean government regards "Seok-do" as the island they now call Dok-do because 石島(Seok-do) is pronounced "Dok-do" in the Gyeongsang and Jeolla dialects.^[59][60] 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. is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...

A majority of the people who settled on Ulleungdo were from Jeolla Province. In the dialect of that region dol (meaning rock; seok or 石 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 石島 in the Chinese writing system—the 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. Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. ... Jamo redirects here. ...

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 獨島. The sound dok or dol is the Chinese character 獨, and 島 is the Chinese character for island—namely, 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 (獨島)'^{[citation needed]}.

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 (관음도) and that the Korean government did not regard the Liancourt rocks as its territory at the time.^[61]

The 1904–1905 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 infamous Battle of Tsushima and on June 13, 1905, 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 (East Sea) 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 1905 and thus had no power to protest the Japanese government's actions. Shimane Prefecture ) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Terra nullius (English pronunciation , Latin pronunciation IPA: ) is a Latin expression deriving from Roman Law meaning no mans land, i. ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1905 (disambiguation). ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Through the Eulsa Treaty of 17 November 1905, the Korean Empire ceded foreign diplomacy to the Japanese Empire, became a protectorate of Japan, and in effect ceded its national sovereignty to Japan. ...

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…"

^[62][63] The 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.^[64] 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.)

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 1894–1895]." 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.^[65]

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.^[66][67] SCAPIN are instructions of occupation forces based on international law of war, and not treaties between subjects. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Capital Tokyo Language(s) Japanese Political structure Military occupation Military Governor  - 1945-1951 Douglas MacArthur  - 1951-1952 Matthew Ridgway Emperor  - 1926-1989 Hirohito Historical era Post-WWII  - Surrender of Japan August 15, 1945  - San Francisco Treaty April 28, 1952 At the end of the Second World War, Japan was occupied... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Allies. ... SCAP, short for Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, was the title for Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following WWII. The title did belong to Dwight David Eisenhower during WWII, however, he had nothing to do with the attacks on Japan. ... is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 (Hokkaidō, Honshū, Kyūshū and Shikoku) and the approximately 1,000 smaller adjacent islands, including the Tsushima Islands and the Ryūkyū (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 Ryūkyū (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.

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." Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru gives a speech on reconciliation and rapport ) at the San Francisco Peace conference. ...

A similar description is seen in Article 5 of SCAP Instruction #1033 that became the origin of the MacArthur line.^[68][69] Look up scap in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the American general; for the municipality in the Philippines, see General MacArthur, Eastern Samar. ...

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.

Several official memoranda recorded in the Foreign Relations of the United States between 1949 and 1951 appear to side with Japan's view and are occasionally described as "proof" of American support such as the Rusk documents.^[70] Wikisource has original text related to this article: Rusk documents Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rusk documents The Rusk documents (Rusk-Yang correspondence) are the official diplomatic correspondence sent by Dean Rusk, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, to You Chan Yang (梁裕燦), the South...

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 CIA's Daily Digest of November 30, 1951, reported Japan decided to abandon the islets after signing the San Francisco Peace Treaty in September 1951.^[71] However, such document of Japanese Government has not been discovered.

Japan argues that Liancourt Rocks are not named because the parties accepted its claim over the islets.^[72][73] Korea responds that Article 2 is stated to be non-exclusive, silent on other Korean islets like Marado, and that the silence means SCAPIN 677's exclusion of the islets from Japanese territory remains in effect.^{[citation needed]} Mara-do is a tiny treeless island 11 km off the south coast of Jeju, in southernmost South Korea, having an area of 0. ...

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, though it is unknown whether such permission was also requested of Japan.^[74] Barely a year later, on July 26, 1952, the United States Government made a security agreement with Japan listing the island as a "facility of the Japanese Government." The military exercises included bombing the islets similar to U.S. military uses of Vieques, in Puerto Rico and Kahoolawe, in the occupied Hawaiian Islands. is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Today, the United States avoids the issue, hoping it can be solved by Japan and Korea amicably.^[75]

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.^[72][73] This is a Korean name; the family name is Rhee Syngman Rhee or Lee Seungman or Yee Sung-man (March 26, 1875 – July 19, 1965) was the first president of South Korea. ... The Syngman Rhee line (Hangul: 이승만 라인) refers to a boundary line established by South Korean President Syngman Rhee in his Peace Line(평화선) declaration of January 18, 1952, marking Dokdo as Korean territory. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru gives a speech on reconciliation and rapport ) at the San Francisco Peace conference. ...

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.^[76] The Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea found that 16 of the 33 were not participants in the expedition.^[77] is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 - President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 - President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. ...

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.^[78]

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. is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 - President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 - President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. ... is the 111th day of the year (112th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

International Court of Justice

Japan protested and, since October 1954, has repeatedly proposed arbitration action at the International Court of Justice, but South Korea has refused. ^[79] After the incidents, in 1954, South Korea built a lighthouse and a helicopter landing pad on the islets, which it has maintained ever since despite repeated protests by Japan.^[2] The International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ; French: ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. ... Eddystone Lighthouse, one of the first wavewashed lighthouses For other uses, see Lighthouse (disambiguation). ...

In 1954, the United States recommended that South Korea accept the offer for arbitration, 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," and, "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." Wikisource has original text related to this article: Report of Van Fleet mission to the Far East The Report of Van Fleet Mission to the Far East is secret papers that the Van Fleet President special mission ambassador visited South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, and sent to the...

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".^[80]

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)’.^[81] In linguistics, grammatical number is a morphological category characterized by the expression of quantity through inflection or agreement. ...

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.^[82] In response, the Korean municipality of Masan passed the Daemado Day bill, commemorating General Yi Jong Mu's conquest of Tsushima Island in 1419 while the ordinance was criticized by South Korean government that it is not only useless but would be also harmful to the international confidentiality of Korea.^[83][84] Shimane Prefecture ) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ... is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Masan is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. ... Yi Jong Mu (1360–1425) is a Korean general who led the Oei Invasion against the conquest of the Tsushima Islands in 1419. ... Tsushima Island (対馬 Tsushima) is an island in Japan, situated in the Tsushima Strait at 34°25N and 129°20E.[1] It is the largest island of the Nagasaki Prefecture. ...

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.^[85] 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.^[86] The Universal Postal Union (UPU, French: Union postale universelle) is an international organization that coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the world-wide postal system. ... A denial-of-service attack (also, DoS attack) is an attack on a computer system or network that causes a loss of service to users, typically the loss of network connectivity and services by consuming the bandwidth of the victim network or overloading the computational resources of the victim system. ...

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.^[87] 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.^[88] IPA pronunciation: This is a Korean name; the family name is Ban Ban Ki-moon (born June 13, 1944)[1] is a South Korean diplomat and the current Secretary-General of the United Nations. ...

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.^[89] For its part, Japan denied any attempt to enter the EEZ, stating that all activities would take place inside its own waters.^[88] 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.^[90] On April 20, 2006, the Korean government refused to take the matter to the International Court of Justice.^[91] 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.^[92] In international maritime law, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a seazone extending from a states coast over which the state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

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.^[93][94]

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.^[95] is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

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.^[96] is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 the survey in response to South Korea's survey in the Japan-claimed EEZ in early July, 2006.^[97] is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Shinzo Abe , ; born 21 September 1954) is the current Prime Minister of Japan, elected by a special session of the National Diet on 26 September 2006. ... Vladivostok (Russian: ) is the administrative center of Primorsky Krai, Russia, situated close to the Russo-Sino border and North Korea. ... Administrative center Vladivostok Area - total - % water Ranked 26th - 165,900 km² - negligible Population - Total - Density Ranked 26th - est. ...

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.^[98] In international maritime law, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a seazone extending from a states coast over which the state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources. ...

Map Gallery

Modern maps

Distances. Liancourt Rocks are located at 37°14′N, 131°52′E and Ulleungdo appears at 37°30′N, 130°52′E, west of Liancourt Rocks. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Ulleungdo (also spelled Ulreungdo) is a South Korean island in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). ...	Ulleungdo and the small neighboring island, Jukdo located in 2 km east. Jukdo is larger than the total area of Liancourt Rocks. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Jukdo is a small island adjacent to Ulleungdo, South Korea. ... Jukdo is a small island adjacent to Ulleungdo, South Korea. ...	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 File history File links Hachidou2. ...	Daehan Jeondo (part, 1899, Korea) Showing Usando slightly northeast to Ulleungdo, both drawn just west of 37°40′N, 130°30′E (whole images[1][2]). Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Ulleungdo (also spelled Ulreungdo) is a South Korean island in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). ...
Kaisei Nihon Yochi Rotei Zenzu (part, 1775, Japan). Matsushima (松島) appears at 37°50′N, 131°40′E with Takeshima (竹島), aka. Isotakeshima (一云 磯竹島) at around 37°80′N, 131°00′E. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 561 pixelsFull resolution (1793 × 1257 pixel, file size: 641 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This map is unclear if the government of the Japan fabricated or not. ...	A Japanese Naval map of June 1905 during Russo-Japanese War shows Japanese military telegraph lines between Japan and Korea. The Liancourt Rocks (竹島) Ulleungdo (Matsushima, 松島), and Oki islands line (marked as planned) was instead installed directly to Matsue. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 424 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,671 × 2,362 pixels, file size: 414 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)A Japanese Naval Map of June 1905 (38 th of Meiji period 明治三十八年六月) during Russo-Japanese War showing the locations of telegraph lines between Japan... For Combined Fleet, please see that article. ... Combatants Russian Empire Principality of Montenegro [1] Empire of Japan Commanders Emperor Nicholas II Aleksey Kuropatkin Stepan Makarov â€  Emperor Meiji Oyama Iwao Heihachiro Togo The Russo–Japanese War (Japanese: Nichi-Ro Sensō, Russian: Russko-Yaponskaya Voyna, Chinese: RìézhànzhÄ“ng, February 10, 1904–September 5, 1905) was a conflict... Oki (隠岐) is the name of a group of islands (隠岐諸島 Oki shotō) in the Sea of Japan, 40 to 80 km from the coast of Honshu. ...	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 File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 592 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,737 × 1,285 pixels, file size: 222 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Image:Dokdo-navymap3. ... Combatants Empire of Japan Russian Empire Commanders Heihachiro Togo Zinovi Rozhdestvenski # Nikolai Nebogatov Strength 4 battleships 27 cruisers destroyers and auxiliary vessels 8 battleships 3 coastal battleships 8 cruisers Casualties 117 dead 583 injured 3 torpedo boats sunk 4,380 dead 5,917 captured 21 ships sunk 7 captured 6...	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 File history File links Size of this preview: 581 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,171 × 2,239 pixels, file size: 275 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image is in the public domain in the United States. ...

See also

• Japanese-Korean relations
• Japanese-Korean disputes
• Foreign relations of Japan
• Foreign relations of South Korea
• Dokdo class landing platform experimental

Japanese-Korean relations are a controversial issue. ... There have been disputes between Japan and Korea (both North and South) on many issues over the years. ... Since the surrender after World War II and the return to the international community by the Treaty of San Francisco, Japanese diplomatic policy have been based on close partnership with the United States and the emphasis on the international cooperation such as the United Nations. ... The foreign relations of South Korea are dominated by its relationships with its neighbors North Korea, China, Japan, and with the United States. ... Dokdo Class Amphibious Ship is an Amphibious assault ship of the South Korean Navy. ...

References

For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Korea Times is the oldest of three English-language newspapers published daily in South Korea, along with The Korea Herald and JoongAng Ilbo. ... The Joong Ang Ilbo is one of the Big Three Newspapers in Korea, the so-called Cho-Joong-Dong (after the first words of the Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cabinet ) is the executive branch of the government of Japan. ... Tetsundo Iwakuni born July 11, 1936) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). ... A koseki (戸籍) is a family registry. ... A jūminhyō (住民票) is a registry of current residential addresses maintained by local governments in Japan. ... The Korea Times is the oldest of three English-language newspapers published daily in South Korea, along with The Korea Herald and JoongAng Ilbo. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Joong Ang Ilbo is one of the Big Three Newspapers in Korea, the so-called Cho-Joong-Dong (after the first words of the Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo. ... Yonhap news agency is the sole news agency in South Korea that supplies domestic and foreign news and information to newspaper and TV broadcast and other subscribers in South Korea. ... The Joong Ang Ilbo is one of the Big Three Newspapers in Korea, the so-called Cho-Joong-Dong (after the first words of the Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo. ... Yonhap news agency is the sole news agency in South Korea that supplies domestic and foreign news and information to newspaper and TV broadcast and other subscribers in South Korea. ... The Joong Ang Ilbo is one of the Big Three Newspapers in Korea, the so-called Cho-Joong-Dong (after the first words of the Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo. ... The Joong Ang Ilbo is one of the Big Three Newspapers in Korea, the so-called Cho-Joong-Dong (after the first words of the Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo. ... The Joong Ang Ilbo is one of the Big Three Newspapers in Korea, the so-called Cho-Joong-Dong (after the first words of the Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Shimane Prefecture ) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ... is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Rusk documents Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rusk documents The Rusk documents (Rusk-Yang correspondence) are the official diplomatic correspondence sent by Dean Rusk, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, to You Chan Yang (梁裕燦), the South... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 158th day of the year (159th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Dong-a Ilbo (literally East Asia Daily) is a major newspaper in South Korea. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Rusk documents Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rusk documents The Rusk documents (Rusk-Yang correspondence) are the official diplomatic correspondence sent by Dean Rusk, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, to You Chan Yang (梁裕燦), the South... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Report of Van Fleet mission to the Far East The Report of Van Fleet Mission to the Far East is secret papers that the Van Fleet President special mission ambassador visited South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, and sent to the... OhmyNews. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Korea Herald is one of a handful of English-language newspapers in South Korea. ... Shimane Prefecture ) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ... The Korea Herald is one of a handful of English-language newspapers in South Korea. ... The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is in charge of diplomacy for South Korea, as well as handling external trade and matters related to overseas Korean nationals. ... Chosun Ilbo is one of the leading newspapers (if not the leading) in South Korea, with a circulation of 2,380,000 copies daily. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Yonhap news agency is the sole news agency in South Korea that supplies domestic and foreign news and information to newspaper and TV broadcast and other subscribers in South Korea. ... Yonhap news agency is the sole news agency in South Korea that supplies domestic and foreign news and information to newspaper and TV broadcast and other subscribers in South Korea. ... Chosun Ilbo is one of the leading newspapers (if not the leading) in South Korea, with a circulation of 2,380,000 copies daily. ... The Japan Times is one of the few independent English newspapers published in Japan: it mainly competes with English editions of the major dailies, such as the Daily Yomiuri and the Mainichi Daily News, as well as the International Herald Tribune. ... Chosun Ilbo is one of the leading newspapers (if not the leading) in South Korea, with a circulation of 2,380,000 copies daily. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... Front gate of the main building of Xinhua News Agency in Beijing For other uses, see Xinhua (disambiguation). ... ANTARA is the official news agency of the government of Indonesia. ...

External links

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

Official sites

• South Korean government's perspective on Dokdo via Korea.net
• Takeshima is Japanese territory: a web page by the Shimane Prefectural Government, Japan
• Japan's position on Takeshima by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Cyber Dokdo System by Gyeongbuk provincial authorities

Pro-Korea

• 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.78–89 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 1–10, Maps Part 1–12 compiled by Gerry-Bevers.

v • d • e Territorial disputes in East, South, and Southeast Asia
Type	Territory	Currently Administered by	Claimants
Land:	Aksai Chin		2
	Arunachal Pradesh		2
	Assam
	East Turkestan		1 2
	Heixiazi / Bolshoy Ussuriyskiy (Eastern part)2
	Heixiazi / Bolshoy Ussuriyskiy (Western part)2
	Indo-Bangladesh enclaves3
	Kashmir3		2
	Kachin State		1 2
	Kayin State		1
	Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands3
	Mainland China2
	Mongolia2
	Pamir Mountains (Northern and central parts)2
	Pamir Mountains (Southern part)2
	Pattani		1
	Sabah		2
	Shan State		1
	Sixty-Four Villages East of the Heilongjiang River2
	Tannu Uriankhai (now Tuva Republic of Russia)2
	Tibet		1 2
	Trans-Karakoram Tract		2
	Wa State		1
Islands and Waters:	Kinmen
	Liancourt Rocks		2
	Macclesfield Bank
	Matsu
	Paracel Islands
	Pedra Branca
	Pratas Islands
	Scarborough Shoal
	Senkaku Islands
	Sir Creek3
	Socotra Rock		2 2
	Southern Kuril Islands
	Spratly Islands3
	Taiwan and Pescadores
Notes:	1Government in exile/exiled group. 2Inactive dispute. 3Divided among multiple claimants.