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Korea, Japan Seek to Defuse Sea Standoff
This is a dispute over a few tiny islands. Anyone else feel that this is a way for the South Korean government to win votes? Last time it was bashing the U.S. and this time the Japanese? Or do the Koreans have a legitimate claim?
Quote:
The South Korean government has been predicted to use this diplomatic dispute as a chance to muster up public support. Local elections will take place in South Korea on May 31, setting the tone of the political scenery here until the presidential election in 2007.
The diplomatic tug of war came as Japan's two survey ships were seen anchored just off the Sakai Port in Tottori Prefecture for a second day, waiting for Tokyo's order to execute what Seoul calls ``provocative'' behavior.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-moon summoned Shotaro Oshima, Japanese ambassador to Seoul, to say that Seoul considers Tokyo's survey plan a violation of South Korea's territorial sovereignty. It was the second time for Ban to call in Oshima in a week.
During the 40-minute meeting in the morning, Ban said Seoul will sternly deal with Tokyo's plan to ``trespass'' on South Korean economic waters in accordance with domestic and international laws.
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Full story here. |
04-20-2006, 06:13 PM
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