S Korea begins military drills around disputed island amid feud with Japan

A few days ago Japan held military drills near mt . Fuji. North Korea lobbed a couple of things in the East Sea/ sea of Japan, today S. Korea is conducting its military drills around Dokdo/ Takeshima. All within their boundaries. Personally, this is something countries do and I don't wanna quibble over insignificant details.

My oh my how fast you change and how quick the other colors start to show. Perhaps you should further ally with China and enjoy all the benefits of a dictatorship.

A few days ago Japan held military drills near mt . Fuji.

The Fuji Firepower Review is a yearly event scheduled months ahead of time and open to the public.

A few days ago Japan held military drills near mt . Fuji. North Korea lobbed a couple of things in the East Sea/ sea of Japan, today S. Korea is conducting its military drills around Dokdo/ Takeshima. All within their boundaries. 

Wrong. Japan conducted live firing drills within her territory. Takeshima is NOT Korean territory, its Japanese. This drill, ordered by Moon, just inflames the situation.

Korean man shows what kind of great, strong man he is by following and then beating some poor random Japanese girl in the subway in Seoul. 

Sickening. Almost certainly this was a politically motivated assault. I hope the poor Japanese girl is OK.

This is not news. Korea holds military drills there 3 times per year.

Here is the article from December as well.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/12/13/national/south-korea-begins-two-day-military-drill-near-disputed-islets-sea-japan/#.XWJGcCSRWaM

The media is trying to make it bigger than it actually is.

Tokyo and Seoul have long been at loggerheads over the sovereignty of the group of islets called Takeshima in Japanese and Dokdo in Korean, which lie about halfway between the East Asian neighbors in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.

I guess this Smith is a bit more neutral calling Japanese name ahead of Korean naming, which should be the way to go for the Japanese news website unless it is Korea Today

I guess they’ve got the Korean ambassador on speed dial for the amount of upbraiding they must be doing.

The squabbling between them is petty, pointless and damaging to both their long term interests. It’s high time the people of both countries gave their respective so called leaders a swift kick up the arse so as to remind them who they serve. Their childish posturing is not serving their people.

Military drills on or around disputed territories are nothing but provocation. So much for peaceful forward looking stance. Did Japan ever do it with/without US over or around Senkaku?

which lie about halfway between the East Asian neighbors in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.

which lie about halfway between the East Asian neighbors in the Sea of Japan as the entire world calls it, also known as the East Sea only by koreans.

Re: Tokyo and Seoul have long been at loggerheads over the sovereignty of the group of islets called Takeshima in Japanese and Dokdo in Korean, which lie about halfway between the East Asian neighbors in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.

This is totally Japan's fault for not being proactive enough in its own defense. China just went ahead and built bases in the pretense of research stations out of a piece of rock and claimed it theirs. SK has gone on ahead and done something similar and now has a building facility their. Japan has had many opportunities to place a small contingent base their i.e. weather station, comm station etc but doesn't. Make it a Joint Station for USFJ and JASDF. In the spirit of politics invite SK to participate. Today its much harder now to kick them out. Simply put Japan has been rolled over just like in the northern Japan region by Russia. If its not careful soon China will squeeze it out of the Senkakus if not already in planning and execution mode.

it seems to me S Korea can never own Takeshima isle as long as there is an official Japan's claim on it, even if S Korean soldiers drills there million times. This is destiny of S Korea, never have it. Only solution is if ICJ takes Korean favor.

I recall reading a story where some businesses owned by South Korean immigrants in the United States had printed material they gave to customers that talked about how Dodko is theirs.

Such a peace loving nation as compared to Japan, lol.

Japan lost any changes of claim to the island after occupation by ROK in 1952.

Ir is indisputable that between Japan and Korea, the last country to launch an attack on the other was South Korea, killing some 3 dozen Japanese in invading Takeshima/Dokdo. For all the talk about aggressive nations. the most recent aggressor was South Korea. These are the facts.

If, hypothetically, we agree that Dokdo/ Takeshima is Japanese , should we then, expect the same reaction from Japan when S.Koreans, show up unannounced in their drills around Shizuoka, tanks rolling, fighter jets and artillery booming ? Does anyone think the Japanese reaction will be similar to the one at Takeshima/ Dokdo? After all, ( you say) both Takeshima and Shizuoka are Japanese territories. I wish Japan well in their NEGOTIATIONS with Korea , because, as it stands, SK's position is that there is no dispute over Dokdo.

SK never won a battle so it's just an ego boost for them and irritating for Japan.

When a Russian military plane entered the Liancourt Rocks airspace, the ROKAF sent out 10 fighter jets and opened fire, sending 360 rounds of bullet at the Russian plane.

The JASDF during this time stayed home watching TV and eating dinner, because the Liancourt Rocks aren’t their jurisdiction.

The truth of the matter is that the harm and pain caused by the brutal Japanese Imperial forces still is seething and burning amongst many Koreans.

Tokyo must realize this fact and find concrete ways to address this issue and not continue hiding behind past declarations that all problems were settled when diplomatic relations were established.

Many felt that the then colonial master of Japan , the USA forced a then weak and poor SK to agree.

As long as Tokyo lays claim on Dokdo the pain felt by Koreans will never heal because it symbolizes the continuation of Japan's savage colonization of Korea.

As the past aggressor it is for Japan to realize the magnitude of the pain and hatred it caused and being so loud and boisterous on claiming Dokdo will not bode well for the relationship.

@kwatt

It seems to me S Korea can never own Takeshima isle as long as there is an official Japan's claim on it,

The Liancourt Rocks are under full Korean jurisdiction, so much so that three LDP members including former defence minister Inada tried to visit them FROM Korea but were turned back.

The Liancourt Rock is a heavily visited tourist destination open to all including Japanese. Japanese are welcome to visit the Liancourt Rocks as tourists and many have, as long as they don’t plan to sneak in Japanese flags and plan on pulling “Takeshima Banzai” stunt.

Clearly this is irrefutable evidence that Japan is the most aggressive nation in that region of the world.

Abe is exhorting his people to boycott South Korean goods, engage in hysterical anti-Korean riots throughout Japan, targeting Korean ships in simulated war drills, lobbying missiles into the Sea of Japan, and now this.

Oh wait...

The Liancourt Rocks are under full Korean jurisdiction, so much so that three LDP members including former defence minister Inada tried to visit them FROM Korea but were turned back.

That's false. Inada, et al were planning to Ulluengdo (Korean territory) but were not allowed entry into Korea's Kimpo Airport. This is the kind of childish stuff that Koreans (from citizens to officials) usually conduct without shame.

As long as Tokyo lays claim on Dokdo the pain felt by Koreans will never heal because it symbolizes the continuation of Japan's savage colonization of Korea.

In terms of international law, what Takeshima 'symbolizes' to Koreans are irrelevant. Koreans, using armed force, took over the islands illegally at the time Japan did not have a self defense force.

While Japan has requested Korea to settle this dispute via International Court Justice on three separate occasions, they refused all of them.

South Korea and China know very well about our peace constitution. They know Japan cannot do anything against their provocations.

See the shadows of the photographers and camera man? Y'know why they are that close?

Because if they took another step backwards, they'd fall off the cursed rocks.

Just blow up the stupid rocks and be done with this.

The maneuver is clearly, not just this time but every time, aimed against Japan. It's also clear that the Liancourt Rocks have been taken by South Korea by force. A fact is also that South Korea refuses to settle this issue, which is no wonder since it is obvious they'd lose at the ICJ. Therefore South Korea will never be able to have a sophisticated talk or relation with Japan.

This also leads to South Korean efforts to scatter their crooked views and oppinion around the world. I have more than once read in newspapers of different countries about the "East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan" or even worse just the "East Sea" or "Dokdo". South Korea tries to bring those islets and the "Sea between Korea and Japan" into the news as much as possible by releasing news only using their names.

Koreans deserve a better government. Just wonder, if they will grow up to do so. Japan needs a better public relation, presenting the facts. I think they need to hire some social media experts focusing on this.

The territorial claim of the Japanese government on Takeshima is comical. Japanese people know what 'Takeshima' literally means: bamboo island 竹島, but there is no bamboo in Takeshima.

But, there is another small island called 'bamboo island' (Jukdo 竹島 in Korean) at 2 km (1 mile) east of Ulleungdo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jukdo_(island)

You may see those abundant bamboos there: https://wayfaringflaneur.com/2018/09/02/jukdo%EC%A3%BD%EB%8F%84-bamboo-island/

Japanese government never mentions this real bamboo island (Jukdo in Korean) when they explain their territorial claim. They intentionally omit it, or obfuscate it with Ulleungdo. For example:

https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/takeshima/position.html

https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/na/takeshima/page1we_000057.html

Long times ago, Japanese fishermen certainly recognized the existence of Jukdo 竹島 near Ulleungdo island. At that time, Takeshima did not designate the Liancourt Rocks, but Jukdo to Japanese fishermen. Both Jukdo and Ulleungdo are now Korean territories that Japan and the other countries acknowledge. Now the Japanese government claims the territorial right with a wrong name or a wrong location.

There are 7 Japanese islands called as the same name Takeshima (竹島 bamboo island) along the coast of Japan, and all of them have bamboo:  https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%AB%B9%E5%B3%B6 

But only one exception is the remotely-located Liancourt Rocks,called 'Dokdo' in Korean, which literally means a rock island.  It is a consistency problem. Koreans knew that it consisted of rocks, and therefore bamboo could not grow there. The so-called bamboo island without any bamboo was just an imaginary island for Japan to forcefully occupy Dokdo. Now they still shout "the bamboo island without any bamboo is a Japanese territory". What a farce!

he territorial claim of the Japanese government on Takeshima is comical. Japanese people know what 'Takeshima' literally means: bamboo island 竹島, but there is no bamboo in Takeshima. 

Japanese use to called it 松島 although there are no ‘pine’ trees.

To make a long story short, the name has nothing to do with the presence of certain plant vegetation.

It’s a concept “松竹梅” used for good luck and congratulatory occasion.

http://gogen-allguide.com/si/syouchikubai.html

Go to restaurants in Japan and the meal courses are sometimes separated by ‘松’ ‘竹’ 梅.

I’m quite amazed that people use this argument even today.

Desperate for attention. Sad.

The territorial claim of the Japanese government on Takeshima is comical. Japanese people know what 'Takeshima' literally means: bamboo island 竹島, but there is no bamboo in Takeshima.

Well, then. It seems everyone living in Iceland needs to surrender their country. Greenland as well. Maybe Trump can use that argument to take it from Denmark.

I've researched the island for a detailed blog post. Neither country has a terribly good claim because it wasn't clearly marked on their maps and/or administered, and/or was treated in official documents as the other party's territory at times. For a ridiculously large amount of info on the subject, google "Dokdo or Takeshima blog" and read the excellent research by scholar Gerry Bevers. His partial support of Japan's claim cost him a work visa in South Korea.

Really, SK wins by default. Japan could say "whatever, have the stupid islands" but then SK would start claim Tsushima again. JP knows there's no end to what Korea will claim.

Good Job! South Korea, your barrel should aiming at the real enemy: Japan ! Instead at your brothers and good neighbours: North Korea, Russia,China!  Shinzo Abe is nothing a friend or neighbour but like a Japanese govonor who is harsh and cold heart! That so called alliances is nothing but putting South Korea like a sand bag for punching and stepping and it is not worth to stay in! "Moon Jae-In", a very wisdom president he has much popularity from his people because he realise this !

Please read Rusk document.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusk_documents

Please read Rusk document.

Why would we do that? If you can’t even be bothered to tell us why it should be read, it doesn’t seem like it would make sense to waste our time doing so.

From the picture, I thought a new “Call of Duty” had been released!