Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO

Japan illegally incorporated Dokdo into its territory in February 1905 for military and strategic purposes during the Russo-Japanese War (February 1904－September 1905), in acute rivalry for the control over the Korean Peninsula.

ㅇ The then Ministry of Home Affairs of Japan recognized Dokdo as Korean territory, but the Japan's Foreign Ministry actively propelled the idea of the territorial incorporation of Dokdo for military purposes.

- Yamaza Enjiro, who was the then head of the Bureau of Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The territorial incorporation of Dokdo is utterly essential, particularly at this time. It would be beneficial to establish a watchtower on Dokdo and install radio station or submarine cables in order to keep an eye on the move of enemy (Russian) warships.”

 Even though the abovementioned illegal incorporation of Dokdo was a decision at the level of the central government of Japan, it was not announced by the central government. Instead it was quietly posted only on the front door of a provincial government office and without notification to any of the neighboring countries.

ㅇOn 28th March, 1906, Korea became aware that Dokdo had been illegally incor- porated into Japanese territory from a Japanese local survey team for Dokdo. When County Magistrate of Uldo-gun[Uldo County; which comprises Ulleungdo and Dokdo] heard this news from the Japanese survey team, he reported to the Korean central government as follows: "Despite Dokdo is under the jurisdiction of this county, […] (the Japanese survey team)[…] stated that Dokdo has become Japanese territory." This clearly shows that the county magistrate of Uldo-gun was governing Dokdo.

ㅇ However, due to the Treaty of Protectorate forced to sign by Japan in November 1905, Korea was deprived of the right to autonomously conduct diplomatic affairs, whereby making it virtually impossible to deliver any meaningful diplomatic protest against Japan.

Dokdo was the first Korean territory to fall victim to Japanese aggression against Korea. If Japan claims its territorial sovereignty over such a land, it would mean that it believes that the rights acquired through imperialistic invasion are still valid at present, which amounts to an act of denying Korea's sovereignty.

 Korea has considered Dokdo to be a part of its territory since ancient times and has exercised its territorial sovereignty over Dokdo for long periods.

ㅇ Dokdo made its first appearance in Korean history when Shilla, an ancient Korean Kingdom, incorporated Usan-guk, which included Ulleungdo and Dokdo, into its territory in the year 512.

- It has been well documented in old Korean government publications and maps since the 15th century that Dokdo is Korean territory.

※For example in 1454, the Geographical Section of the Annals of King Sejong's Reign(Sejong Silok Jiriji) stated, "Usan[Dokdo] and Ulleung are not far apart from each other and thus visible on a clear day."

※In 1770, the Reference Compilation of Documents on Korea(Dongguk Munheon Bigo) stated that "Ulleung[Ulleungdo] and Usan[Dokdo] are both territories of Usan-guk[Usan State]."

ㅇ Given its geographical location, being visible to the naked eye from Ulleungdo, Dokdo has long been considered as ancillary islands to Ulleungdo.

 In contrast, Japan had consistently recognized Dokdo as not a part of Japanese territory, until its attempt to incorporate Dokdo in 1905. Actually, there exists no government publications or maps marked Dokdo as its territory before 1905.

 Prior to the 20th century, Japan confirmed on several occasions at the governmental level that Dokdo was not Japanese territory:

ㅇ During the "Ulleungdo dispute" between Korea and Japan in the late 17th century, Japanese government confirmed in January 1696 that Ulleungdo and Dokdo were part of Korean territory, and thus prohibited Japanese fishermen from further passages towards Ulleungdo.

ㅇ A survey team of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatched to Korea in 1870 reported(「Report on Past Interactions with Joseon」) to its headquarters that Ulleungdo and Dokdo were Korean territories.

ㅇ In 1877, Japan's highest decision-making body during the Meiji period officially confirmed that Ulleungdo and Dokdo are not Japanese territories. (｢Daijokan Order｣)

 In contrast, Korea enacted legislation in 1900 which declared that "all of Ulleungdo as well as Jukdo and Dokdo shall be placed under the jurisdiction of Ulleung county", under the Korean Empire's Edict No. 41.

 Japan says that Takeshima is "an integral part of Japanese territory since ancient times." However, when the Japanese Cabinet decided to incorporate Dokdo in 1905, its legal rationale was that Dokdo was terra nullius, or nobody's land. If Dokdo is really Japanese territory since ancient times, why did the Cabinet regard Dokdo as terra nullius? This shows the absence of consistency in Japan's rationale over Dokdo.

 Dokdo is indisputably an integral part of Korean territory historically, geographically, and under international law.

 Korea's position is that Dokdo is not subject to territorial dispute, and there is no reason for the Republic of Korea to prove its sovereignty over Dokdo before international courts.

 The Government of Korea will continue its efforts to build a future-oriented relationship between Korea and Japan based on a correct understanding of past history.

Attachment : Process of the Japanese Imperialistic Invasion of Dokdo

/End/

 August 1, 1894: Outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War

ㅇ This war was fought between Quin Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over the control of Korea.

 October 1895: Japan sent assassins and murdered the then Korean queen (Empress Myeongseong), who had protested against the Japanese imperialistic invasion.

 October 24, 1900: Notification of Imperial Edict No. 41 by Emperor Kojong

ㅇ This edict decided that 'Ulleungdo' shall be renamed 'Uldo' and the post of inspector[dogam] shall be changed to county magistrate[gunsu], and placed all of Ulleungdo, as well as Jukdo and Seokdo[Dokdo], under the jurisdiction of Uldo-gun[Uldo county].

 February 8, 1904: Outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War

 February 23, 1904: Conclusion of the Korea-Japan Protocol

ㅇ Japan utilized Korean territory for military purposes in conducting the Russo-Japanese War.

 August 22, 1904: The First Korea-Japan Agreement

ㅇ Japan had coerced the Korean government to appoint Japanese and other non-Korean nationals as advisers to the Korean government.

 January 28, 1905: Japan's cabinet decision

ㅇ The cabinet decided to incorporate Dokdo as part of Japanese territory.

 February 22, 1905: Shimane Prefecture Public Notice No. 40

ㅇ By issuing this public notice, Japan attempted to incorporate Dokdo into its territory.

- This decision was in consideration of Dokdo's military and strategic worth in conducting the Russo-Japanese War.

※ Yamaza Enjiro, who was the head of the Bureau of Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, actively propelled the idea of the territorial incorporation of Dokdo in order to utilize it as a military outpost.

- Yamaza said, “The territorial incorporation of Dokdo was utterly essential, particularly at this time. It would be beneficial to establish a watchtower on Dokdo and install radio station or submarine cables to keep an eye on enemy (Russian) warships."

 November 17, 1905: Conclusion of the Protectorate Treaty

 March 28, 1906: County Magistrate Shim Heung-taek of Uldo-gun[Uldo County] heard this news from the Japanese survey team, he reported to the Korean central government as follows: "Despite Dokdo is under the jurisdiction of this county, […] (the Japanese survey team)[…] stated that Dokdo has become Japanese territory."

ㅇ Magistrate Shim stated "Seokdo[Dokdo], which is under the jurisdiction of this county [Ullengdo]", thus making it clear that Dokdo was under the jurisdiction of Ulleungdo.

ㅇ The Uijeongbu(State Council of Korea), through Order No. 3 on May 20, 1906 confirmed that the claim that Dokdo had become Japanese territory was groundless.

 August 22, 1910: Annexation of Korea