Liancourt Rocks

"Dokdo" redirects here. For other uses, see Dokdo (disambiguation).

"Takeshima" redirects here. For other uses, see Takeshima (disambiguation).

Location of the Liancourt Rocks between Korea and Japan

Detailed map

The Liancourt Rocks are a group of small islets in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Sovereignty over the islands is disputed between Japan and South Korea. South Korea has controlled them since July 1954.

Its name is derived from Le Liancourt, the name of the French whaling ship whose crew were the first Europeans to encounter and chart the islets in 1849. The islets are also known as Dokdo (or Tokto) (독도/獨島, literally "solitary island") in Korean and as Takeshima (竹島, , literally "bamboo island") in Japanese.

The Liancourt Rocks comprise two main islets and 35 smaller rocks. Their total surface is 187,450 square metres (46 acres) and their highest elevation is 169 metres (554 feet). They are currently inhabited by two permanent Korean citizens, Kim Seong-do (김성도) and Kim Shin-yeol (김신열), a small Korean police detachment, administrative personnel and lighthouse staff.

Korea administers the islands as part of Ulleung County, North Gyeongsang Province. Japan classifies them as part of Okinoshima, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture.

The islands lie in rich fishing grounds which could also contain large gas deposits.

Geography

A panorama image of the Liancourt Rocks.

The Liancourt Rocks are composed mainly of two islets, 150 metres apart ( 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, volcanic rocks formed in the Cenozoic era. A total of 37 of these islets are recognized as permanent land. In 2006, a geologist reported that the islets formed 4.5 million years ago and are quickly eroding.

The total area of the islets is about 187,450 square metres (46 acres), with their highest point at 169 metres (554 ft) in the western islet. The western islet is about 88,640 square metres (22 acres) in area; the eastern islet about 73,300 square metres (18 acres). Liancourt Rocks are located at about 131°52´ East longitude and about 37°14´ North latitude. 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. The nearest Korean territory (Ulleung-do) is 87 km (54 mi) away (it 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 metres high. There are two large caves giving access to the sea, as well as a crater.

Climate

Due to their 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 average—1324 mm), with occasional snowfall. Fog is also a common sight. In the summer, southerly 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.

Demographics

There are two permanent Korean citizens, Kim Sung-do (김성도) and Kim Shin-yeol (김신열), living on the islets. In addition to these residents, there are 37 South Korean police officers who take residence on guard duty. There are also three Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries personnel, and three lighthouse keepers living on the islets in rotation. In the past, several fishermen also lived on the islets temporarily. For many years, civilian travel was subject to Korean government approval because the islands is designated as a nature reserve. Tourist boats carrying 1,597 visitors were allowed to land in 2004. Since mid-March 2005, more tourists have been allowed to land, up to 70 tourists are permitted at any one time. Tour companies charge around 350,000 Korean won per person.

International dispute

There are conflicting interpretations about the state of sovereignty over the islands in pre-modern times. A Korean claim is partly based on references to a Korean island called Usan-do (우산, 于山) in various historical records and maps. According to the Korean view, these refer to today's Liancourt Rocks, while the Japanese side argues that they must refer to a different island located in the immediate vicinity of the nearest larger Korean island Ulleung-do, and ironically called Jukdo (죽도 竹島), meaning "bamboo island," or the name the Japanese give to the Liancourt Rocks.

1877 Daijō-kan order

In 1877, Japanese Daijō-kan issued an order stating that Ulleungdo and another island are not under Japanese rule [1][2]. Korea claims that this "another island" refers to Liancourt Rocks and considers this order as an evidence that Liancourt Rocks were under the control of Korea. Japan considers that this "another island" does not refer to Liancourt Rocks.

1900 Korean Imperial Decree No. 41

In the year 1900, Korea made an Imperial Decree No. 41 of Oct 25, 1900, which was published in Official Gazette No. 1716 (『관보(官報)』제1716호) on Oct 27.[3] This decree states that Ulleungdo, Jukdo, and Sokto are incorporated into the Ulleung County. Korea claims that the islands "Sokto" mentioned in this document are Liancourt Rocks, and thus Liancourt Rocks were officially parts of Korea at this time. Japan claims that there is no evidence to identify the islands "Sokto" as Liancourt Rocks.

1905 Japanese Shimane Prefectural Notice No. 40

Japan claims to have enforced its Diet decision of Jan 28, 1905, to incorporate the "unclaimed" islands as part of Shimane Prefecture (島根縣) (明治三十八年一月二十八日閣議決定) in Shimane Prefectural Notice No. 40 (島根縣告示第40號) of Feb 22, 1905[4]. The decision was reported in a newspaper, San-in Shimbun, on Feb 24, 1905.[5][6] The incorporation came in the heat of the Russo-Japanese War and before the Eulsa Treaty of Nov 17, 1905, when Korea became Japan's protectorate. A temporary watchtower was erected on the islands for anti-Russian surveillance purposes, which was demolished after Japan's victory in the war. Japan claims the incorporation was valid on grounds that Liancourt Rocks was a "terra nullius" and that Korea did not dispute the incorporation when the news was published. Korea claims the Feb 24 San-in Shimbun report lacks official status as its circulation was limited to the Shimane prefectural region. Korea also claims that Emperor Gojong did in fact dispute the incorporation by dispatching envoys to the Hague Peace Convention of 1907 (Hague_Secret_Emissary_Affair), and that Japan's 1905 claim to "terra nullius" conflicts with its previous recognition of Takeshima as a Korean territory.[7]

Post World War II era

The recent dispute stems largely from conflicting interpretations of whether Japan's renunciation of sovereignty over its occupied territories after World War II was supposed to cover the Liancourt Rocks as well. While Supreme Commander Allied Powers Instruction #677 of January 29, 1946, listed the Liancourt Rocks, along with many other islands, as part of those territories over which Japanese sovereignty was to be suspended [8]. In the first to fifth drafts of the peace treaty Treaty of San Francisco between Japan and the Allied powers, Liancourt Rocks were described to become parts of Korea[9]. However, the sixth draft, which was made on Dec 29, 1949, ruled that Liancourt Rocks belong to Japan. The final version did not mention Liancourt Rocks. In Aug 10, 1951, a notification currently known as Rusk documents was sent to South Korea as a final U.S. Government reply on the issue of sovereignty between South Korea and Japan, and it states that Liancourt Rocks are territory of Japan. (However, the current U.S. government stands on a neutral position on this issue.)

Modern conflict

On July 14 2008, South Korea temporarily recalled its envoy to Japan, after Japan re-asserted its sovereignty claim over the islands. Meanwhile, there were mass protests in South Korea involving burning flags in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, with one group killing nine pheasants (the green pheasant is the national bird of Japan) with hammers, then throwing the bodies into the embassy grounds. The Korean government is considering sending marines to replace a police contingent on Dokdo to thwart Japan's territorial claim to the islets.

"There is no reason to argue for and against our sovereignty over Dokdo since it's obvious that the islets are our territory from standpoints of history and geography and international law," Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said. "It is a serious problem that Japan's Education Ministry has publicly distorted history." The Korean government is also considering building infrastructure to provide tap water, establishing an oceanic scientific base, dispatching public officials to the area, allowing freer public access to the islets, and turning Dokdo into a resort area with hotels.

References

37°14′30″N 131°52′E