Japan made proposals to refer the issue to the ICJ, the ROK rejected them
Developments in Japan
September 1954 –
Proposal to the ROK to refer the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Japan made proposals in 1954, 1962, and 2012, all of which were rejected by the ROK. Furthermore, the ROK was recommended by the US to refer the case to the ICJ (Van Fleet Report below)
Japan’s Basic Position
- * Takeshima is indisputably an inherent part of the territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and based on international law.
- * The ROK has been occupying Takeshima with no basis in international law. Any measures the ROK takes regarding Takeshima based on such an illegal occupation have no legal justification.
- * Japan will continue to seek the settlement of the dispute over territorial sovereignty over Takeshima on the basis of international law in a calm and peaceful manner.
Developments in the ROK
The ROK’s actions on Takeshima
p.34, Dokdo : Beautiful Island of Korea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Republic of Korea
“The proposal of the Japanese government is nothing but another attempt disguised in the form of judicial procedures. Korea has the territorial rights ab initio over Dokdo and sees no reason why she should seek the verification of such rights before any international court.
…
Now, in view of the unreasonable and persistent claim of the Japanese government over Dokdo, the Korean people are seriously concerned that Japan might be repeating the same course of aggression. To Korea, Dokdo is not merely a tiny island in the East Sea (Note: Name used by the ROK for Sea of Japan). It is the symbol of Korean sovereignty.
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