Hostile fire from Takeshima battery (Asahi Shimbun.)

Foreign Ministry announcement
The view of the Foreign Ministry's Public Information and Cultural Affairs Bureau is summarized as follows.
Although, in our view, there is not the slightest doubt that Takeshima belongs to Japan, the Republic of Korea claims otherwise, even if erroneously. We therefore proposed that we should seek the judgment of the International Court of Justice in The Hague as the fairest and most authoritative body. However, we find it surprising and most deeply regrettable that the Government of the Republic of Korea has now adopted the stance of avoiding the International Court of Justice. As long as it continues to reject the Japanese Government's proposal, responsibility for all problems over Takeshima should naturally rest on the Government of the Republic of Korea.