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Liancourt Rocks

Coordinates: 37°14′30″N 131°52′00″E / 37.24167°N 131.86667°E / 37.24167; 131.86667
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Liancourt Rocks
Map
Other namesDokdo, Takeshima, Tok Islets
Geography
LocationSea of Japan (East Sea)
Coordinates37°14′30″N 131°52′0″E / 37.24167°N 131.86667°E / 37.24167; 131.86667
Administration
South Korea

The Liancourt Rocks, known as Takeshima (たけしま/竹島, literally "bamboo island") in Japanese and Dokdo or Tokto (독도/獨島, literally "solitary island") in Korean,[1] are a group of small islets in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Sovereignty over the islets is disputed between Japan and South Korea. South Korea classifies the islets as Dokdo-ri,[2] Ulleung-eup, Ulleung County, North Gyeongsang Province. Japan classifies them as part of Okinoshima, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture.

The Franco-English name of the islets derives from Le Liancourt, the name of a French whaling ship which came close to being wrecked on the rocks in 1849.[3]

The Liancourt Rocks consist of two main islets and 35 smaller rocks; the total surface area of the islets is 0.18745 square kilometres (46.32 acres), with the highest elevation of 169 metres (554 ft) found at an unnamed location on the west islet.[4]

Since January 1952, the South Korean President Rhee sent Korean Coast Guard to the islets and has occupied the area without any legal consent with Japan nor UN. Also Korean Government sent two Korean citizens to the isllets - an octopus fisherman and his wife - as permanent residents on the islets. A small Korean police detachment, administrative personnel, and lighthouse staff are stationed on the islets.[5]


The islets lie in rich fishing grounds which could also contain large gas deposits.[6]

Geography

A panorama image of the Liancourt Rocks,
Left side: Eastern Island (lighthouse located here);
Right side: Western Island.

The Liancourt Rocks consist of two main islets and numerous surrounding rocks. The two main islets, called Seodo (서도/西島, "Western Island") and Dongdo (동도/東島, "Eastern Island") in Korean, and Otokojima (おとこじま/男島, "Male Island") and Onnajima (おんなじま/女島, "Female Island") in Japanese, are 151 metres (495 ft) apart.[4] The Western Island is the larger of the two, with a wider base and higher peak, while the Eastern Island offers more usable surface area.

Altogether, there are about 90 islets and reefs,[7] volcanic rocks formed in the Cenozoic era, more specifically 4.6 to 2.0 million years ago. A total of 37 of these islets are recognized as permanent land.[7]

The total area of the islets is about 187,450 square metres (46.32 acres), with their highest point at 169 metres (554 ft) on the West Islet.[4] The West Islet is about 88,640 square metres (21.90 acres); the East Islet is about 73,300 square metres (18.1 acres).[7]

The West Islet consists of a single peak and features many caves along the coastline. The cliffs of the East Islet are about 10 to 20 metres (33 to 66 ft) high. There are two large caves giving access to the sea, as well as a crater.

In 2006, a geologist reported that the islets formed 4.5 million years ago and are quickly eroding.[8]

Distances

Liancourt Rocks are located at about 131°52´ East longitude and about 37°14´ North latitude.[7] The West Islet is located at 37°14′31″N 131°51′55″E / 37.24194°N 131.86528°E / 37.24194; 131.86528 (West Islet) and the East Islet is located at 37°14′27″N 131°52′10″E / 37.24083°N 131.86944°E / 37.24083; 131.86944 (East Islet).

Liancourt Rocks are situated at a distance of 215 kilometres (116 nmi) from mainland Korea and 211 kilometres (114 nmi) from the main island of Japan (Honshu).[9]

The nearest undisputed Korean island, Ulleung-do, is at a distance of 87 kilometres (47 nmi),[10] while the distance to the nearest undisputed Japanese island, Oki Islands, is 157 kilometres (85 nmi).[11]

Climate

Due to their location and extremely small size, the Liancourt Rocks sometimes have harsh weather. During the winter, ships are sometimes unable to dock because of strong northwestern winds.[4] Overall, the climate is warm and humid, and heavily influenced by warm sea currents. Precipitation is high throughout the year (annual average—1,324 millimetres or 52.1 inches), with occasional snowfall. Fog is also a common sight. In the summer, southerly winds dominate. The water around the islets is about 10 °C (50 °F) in spring, when the water is coolest. It warms to about 25 °C (77 °F) in August.

Ecology

A view from one of the rocks on a calm day.

The islets are volcanic rocks, with only a thin layer of soil and moss.[7] About 49 plant species, 107 bird species, and 93 insect species have been found to inhabit the islets, in addition to local marine life with 160 algal and 368 invertebrate species identified.[12] Although between 1,100 and 1,200 litres of fresh water flow daily, desalinization plants have been installed on the islets for human consumption because existing spring water suffers from guano contamination.[13] Since the early 1970s trees and some types of flowers were planted.[4] According to historical records, there used to be trees indigenous to Liancourt Rocks, which have supposedly been wiped out by overharvesting and fires caused by bombing drills over the islets.[14][15] A recent investigation, however, identified ten spindle trees aged 100–120 years.[16][17]

Demographics and economy

In 1991, South Korean Government sent two Korean citizens, Kim Sung-do (김성도) and Kim Shin-yeol (김신열), to the islets to show the world that the two Koreans are the permanent citizens of the islets. They are said to make a living from fishing there. In addition to them, there are 37 South Korean police officers (독도경비대/獨島警備隊) on guard duty. There are also three Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries personnel, and three lighthouse keepers staying on the islets in rotation.

Since the South Korean Government sent their Coast Guard to the islets, civilian travel was subject to Korean government approval. They have claimed that the reason is that the islet group is designated as a nature reserve.

South Korean Government gave their approval to 1,597 visitors to land in 2004. Since mid-March 2005, more tourists received their approval to land. South Korean Government let up to 70 tourists land at any one time. One ferry provides rides to the islets every day.[18] En route to Liancourt Rocks, the ferry shows an animated film featuring a giant robot warding off Japanese.[19] Tour companies charge around 350,000 Korean won per person (approx. 250 US dollars as of 2009).[5]

Construction

South Korea has carried out a lot of construction work on the Liancourt Rocks. Today, the islands house a lighthouse, a helicopter pad, a large South Korean flag visible from the air, a post box,[20] a staircase, and police barracks.[19] In 2007, two desalinization plants were built capable of producing 28 tons of clean water every day.[13] Both of the major Korean telephone companies have installed cell phone towers on the islets.[21]

Pollution and environmental destruction

There is a serious concern for pollution in the seas surrounding Liancourt Rocks. The sewage water treatment system established on the islets has malfunctioned and sewage water produced by inhabitants of the Liancourt Rocks such as South Korean Coast Guard and lighthouse staff is being dumped directly into the ocean. Significant water pollution has been observed; sea water has turned milky white, sea vegetation is progressively dying off, and calcification of coral reefs is spreading. The pollution is also causing loss of biodiversity in the surrounding seas. In November 2004, eight tons of malodorous sludge was being dumped into the ocean every day.[22] Efforts have since been made by both public[23] and private[24] organizations to help curb the level of pollution surrounding the Rocks.

Role in Japan–Korea relations

South Korea stamps depicting the Liancourt Rocks from 1954.

The Liancourt Rocks are a point of heated contention, alongside other Japan–Korea disputes.

The dispute on the islets between Japan and South Korea started when South Korean Patriotic Old Men's Association demanded that the MacArthur line established after World War II continue to be enforced in August 1948, though on August 10, 1951, the United States sent Korean Ambassador Yang You Chan the Rusk documents, stating that the official policy of the United States was that the MacArthur line would be abolished by the Treaty of Peace with Japan in San Francisco, which was was signed on September 8 of the same year by 49 countries, about a month after the documents were sent, and was to come into effect on April 28, 1952. In response, the South Korean government declared the Syngman Rhee Line three months before this date, when the extinction of the MacArthur line and the return of sovereignty to Japan were meant to be established.

According to the Report of Van Fleet Mission to Far East made in 1954, the U.S. government maintained that the one-sided declaration of the Syngman Rhee Line was illegal under international law.

On the other hand, reportedly, North Korea, technically still at war with South Korea, supports South Korea's claim.[25][26]

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in accordance with the Treaty, considers its position "inalterable", [27][28] while South Korea maintains a nationwide educational program which sends students from 62 elementary, middle, and high schools on field trips to the rocks on a regular basis. The government has also written a textbook about the rocks, intended to be used in elementary schools across the country, and manages a year-round national educational tour.[29] When Japan's Shimane prefecture announced a "Takeshima Day" in 2005, Koreans reacted with demonstrations and protests throughout the country, extreme examples of which included a mother and son slicing off their own fingers, and a man who set himself on fire.[30] In 2006, five Korean "Dokdo Riders" embarked on a world tour to raise international awareness of the dispute.[30]

On August 10, 2012, President of South Korea Lee Myung-Bak visited Liancourt Rocks, which made him the first South Korean President to do so.[31][32] Japan temporarily withdrew its ambassador to South Korea Masatoshi Muto, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kōichirō Gemba summoned the South Korean ambassador to file a complaint[33] and threatened to lodge a case with the International Court of Justice, (ICJ) which was rejected by South Korea. It could do so because both countries party to a dispute must agree to such ICJ cases. It was the first time for Japan to make such a move in 47 years, since Japan and South Korea officially re-established relations in 1965.[34]

Other notable protests featured South Koreans decapitating pheasants in front of the Japanese Embassy,[19] and a South Korean association football player Park Jong-Woo holding up a sign stating "Dokdo is our land", after the bronze medal match with Japan during the 2012 Summer Olympics.[35]

Dispute

Main article: Liancourt Rocks dispute

South Korea and Japan both claim ownership of the island, based in large part on differing interpretations of historical documents. The dispute has regularly caused diplomatic frictions between the two countries. Japan has proposed that the issue be resolved by the International Court of Justice, but South Korea considers the islands to be indisputably Korean territory and thus has declined resolution at the ICJ.

References

  1. ^ Staff Seoul and Tokyo hold island talks BBC, 20 April 2006
  2. ^ "Act 1395 amending Chapter 14-2, Ri-Administration under Ulleung County, Local Autonomy Law, Ulleung County (울릉군리의명칭과구역에관한조례 [개정 2000. 4. 7 조례 제1395호])". "Pursuant to Act 1395 amending Chapter 14-2, Ri-Administration under Ulleung County, Local Autonomy Law, Ulleung County, passed March 20, 2000, enacted April 7, 2000, the administrative designation of Dokdo addresses as 42 to 76, Dodong-ri, Ulleung-eup, Ulleung County, North Gyungsang Province, is changed to address 1 to 37, Dokdo-ri, Ulleung-eup, Ulleung County, North Gyungsang Province." "2000년 4월 7일 울릉군조례 제1395호로 독도리가 신설됨에 따라 독도의 행정구역이 종전의 경상북도 울릉군 울릉읍 도동리 산42～76번지에서 경상북도 울릉군 울릉읍 독도리 산1～37번지로 변경 됨."[1]
  3. ^ Kirk, Donald (2008-07-26). "Seoul has desert island dreams". Asia Times Online.
  4. ^ a b c d e Introducing Dokdo Cyber Dokdo
  5. ^ a b Life in Dokdo Cyber Dokdo
  6. ^ "Island row hits Japanese condoms", BBC News, 2008-07-27
  7. ^ a b c d e Gyongsangbuk-do (2001). Cyber Dokdo. Retrieved 9 January 2006.
  8. ^ "독도, 일본보다 빠른 속도로 침몰하고 있다", The Korea Times, 2006/12/01. 손영관교수 `독도ㆍ울릉도 `침몰하고 있다``, JoongAng Ilbo, 2006/12/01.
  9. ^ "The Issue of Takeshima". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
  10. ^ BAEK In-ki, SHIM Mun-bo, Korea Maritime Institute. A study of Distance between Ulleungdo and Dokdo and Ocean Currents (울릉도와 독도의 거리와 해류에 관한 연구) Dec 2006,. ISBN 978-89-7998-340-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) pp. 20-22
  11. ^ National Geographic Atlas of the World, 7th edition. pp. 103-104.
  12. ^ "독도 자연생태계 정밀조사결과(요약)". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b Korea.net. "Doosan pours big drink for Dokdo residents" June 12, 2007.
  14. ^ BAEK In-ki, SHIM Mun-bo, Korea Maritime Institute. "op. cit".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) p. 48: There are records attesting to the existence of trees [on Liancourt Rocks] in the past. (과거에는 독도에도 수목이 있었다는 기록이 있기는 하다.)
  15. ^ LEE Kyu Tae, Chosun Daily (June 27, 2003). "(pseud.)The Trees of Liancourt Rocks".
  16. ^ "Indigenous Spindle Tree Colony Found on Liancourt Rocks 독도 자생 사철나무 군락 첫 발견".
  17. ^ "독도 자생 사철나무 100년 이상 된 자생식물". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Michael Ha. "A Unique Trip to Dokdo — Islets in the News". The Korea Times. August 26, 2008.
  19. ^ a b c Choe Sang-Hun. " A fierce Korean pride in a lonely group of islets". International Herald Tribune. August 28, 2008
  20. ^ Vladivostok News report
  21. ^ Korea.net
  22. ^ "독도 오수정화시설이 동해바다 오염 주범?". Imaeil.
  23. ^ "Three-Month Cleanup for Dokdo's Marine Garbage Starts from June 2 독도 바다쓰레기 청소 6월2일부터 석달간".
  24. ^ "나무 심고 오물 줍고…아름다운 '독도 사랑'".
  25. ^ North Korea blasts Japan
  26. ^ North Korea actually sides with South Korea over something
  27. ^ The Issue of Takeshima, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  28. ^ The Truth Is... Dokdo is Korean Territory 2009-03-10, Dokdo Research Institute
  29. ^ Kuminilbo. "The current state of Dokdo education" (日 독도 침탈 점점 노골화 되는데 우리는 우리 땅 제대로 가르치나). August 2011.
  30. ^ a b Charles Burress. "'Dokdo Riders' on world tour for rocks". San Francisco Chronicle. April 1, 2006.
  31. ^ Kyeonggiilbo "President Lee Myung-Bak visited Dokdo" (이명박 대통령, 독도 전격 방문). August 2012.
  32. ^ The Japan Times EDITORIAL: Strain on Tokyo-Seoul ties August 16 2012 Retrieved on August 16 2012
  33. ^ The Daily Yomiuri Lee's visit to Takeshima threatens Japan-S. Korea ties August 13, 2012 Retrieved on August 16, 2012
  34. ^ The Korean Times Seoul to keep Dokdo out of court August 12, 2012 Retrieved on August 16, 2012
  35. ^ http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/ioc-says-south-korean-player-t-accept-bronze-145955541--oly.html
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37°14′30″N 131°52′00″E / 37.24167°N 131.86667°E / 37.24167; 131.86667

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