Takeshima Dispute
Note verbale to South Korea
Demand to Agree on Referring to the International Court of Justice (Mainichi Shimbun)

Completely Ignored a Protest from Japan

The Government of Japan has determined its policy that it will refer the Takeshima Dispute to the International Court of Justice by a Cabinet Decision on 24th, since the dispute over "Takeshima", an isolated island in the Sea of Japan, between Japan and the ROK does not seem to be settled in the near future at all. Mr. OKUMURA, the Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, invited Minister KIM of the Delegation of the ROK to Japan, made representation about this issue and handed over a note verbale of demanding a consent of the reference (to the ICJ).
Though Minister KIM stated that "I will immediately convey your demands on Our Government, and I will inform you as soon as I receive the instructions", the possibility of the Government of the ROK giving consent to make a special agreement (to refer this issue to the ICJ) was considerably low according to the circumstances in the past. The Government of Japan understands that, in the case that the Government of the ROK does not give consent to this thing stated above, it can be regarded as the evidence which indicates that the ROK has its weakness regarding this issue. Moreover, in the case of referring this issue to the ICJ, the Government of Japan understands that it will obviously win the case.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced the sequence and circumstances of the issue concerning the Takeshima Dispute, and others at noon, on the same day.