"DEMOCRACIES DON'T GO TO WAR WITH EACHOTHER"
South Korea, Japan Race to Avert a Clash
South Korea, Japan Race to Avert a Clash Over Disputed Island; S.
Korean Gunboats on the Way
By KWANG-TAE KIM Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea - Japanese and South Korean negotiators raced
Thursday to avert a clash over disputed islets as Seoul accused Tokyo
of imperialistic ambitions and warned of a possible confrontation at
sea.
Behind-the-scenes talks on a diplomatic solution came as tensions
mounted over a Japanese plan to survey resource-rich waters near the
islands, which are occupied by South Korea but claimed by Japan.
Some 20 South Korean gunboats have been dispatched to the area in
anticipation of the arrival of Japanese survey ships. The gunboats were
scheduled to conduct high seas seizure drills Thursday, but delayed the
exercises due to bad weather.
In Seoul, the Foreign Ministry summoned the Japanese embassy for talks,
while warning of the possibility of a clash. Japan held the "key" to
preventing conflict, ministry spokesman Choo Kyu-ho said.
President Roh Moo-hyun accused Tokyo of harboring imperialistic
ambitions. Many South Koreans say the basis of Japan's claim is its
1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
"There are some people claiming territorial rights to former colonies
that were once acquired through a war of aggression," Roh said in a
speech at a breakfast prayer meeting of Christian leaders in Seoul.
"We are now in a difficult situation," he said. "Problems cannot be
solved just by goodwill."
The rocky outcroppings, called Dokdo by Koreans and Takeshima in Japan,
are surrounded by rich fishing waters and both countries claim the area
as part of their exclusive economic zones. Korea Gas Corp. estimates
the area also has enough methane hydrate deposits to meet South Korean
natural gas demands for 30 years.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said there had been
"unofficial" contact between the two sides but Japan still planned to
go ahead with the survey.
"The Japanese Coast Guard is carrying out preparations to conduct a
maritime survey that is based on international law," he said. "A calm
response is necessary, and unofficial contacts between Japan and South
Korea are taking place."
The European Union called for a peaceful resolution.
"The EU is saddened to see that there are tensions between the two
countries and hopes that the countries can find a peaceful diplomatic
solution," visiting EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita
Ferrero-Waldner told a news conference in Seoul.
Meanwhile, hundreds of riot police guarded the Japanese Embassy in
Seoul as demonstrators gathered, chanting "Dokdo is our territory!" A
dozen fishery workers later failed in an attempt to storm the compound.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi suggested Japan may dispatch a foreign
ministry official to South Korea to avert a clash. News reports had
earlier said Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi may
travel to Seoul as early as Friday.
When asked about the reports, Koizumi said Japan would do its utmost to
reach an amicable solution.
News reports said the survey might begin later Thursday. Two survey
ships left Japan's west coast on Wednesday but have been lingering
offshore since.
Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Thursday Japan needs to conduct the
survey to protect its national interests.
But Japanese newspapers reported Thursday that Tokyo offered to drop
its survey if Seoul agreed to not register Korean place names in the
disputed waters, including a proposal to rename the Sea of Japan, at an
international conference in June. Some undersea basins and ridges are
not yet named.
Song Min-soon, Roh's security adviser, said in an interview with South
Korea's KBS Radio, however, that Seoul has no intention to withdraw its
renaming proposal.
The leader of South Korea's ruling Uri Party, meanwhile, urged tougher
measures against Japan.
"Japan has finally crossed the line," Chung Dong-young was quoted as
saying by party spokeswoman Seo Young-kyo. "We have been practicing
somewhat quiet and calm diplomacy up until now, but we can no longer
stand this."
The island dispute marks a further deterioration in ties between the
two countries, which have struggled for years to overcome a
centuries-long history of animosity.
The countries are also at odds over Koizumi's repeated visits to a war
shrine that critics, Seoul included, consider a glorification of
Japan's imperialist past.
Associated Press reporter Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this
story
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