hankyoreh

right

By Lee Tae-hee, Staff Writer　

Democratic Party Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu criticized what he called a U.S. bias toward Japan on sovereignty issues Monday, including its support for designating the East Sea solely as the “Sea of Japan” on maps. Sohn warned that this could lead to fissures in the framework of South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation.

In a statement released for the 66th Independence Day on Monday, Sohn described the U.S.’s recent formulation of policy for labeling the East Sea only as the “Sea of Japan” as “the second instance of the U.S. siding with the Japanese view, following its 2008 reversal of a previous decision to categorize Dokdo as a region of ‘undesignated sovereignty.’”

Sohn added, “I hope it is understood that the misguided policy judgment and execution of the U.S. could bring about fissures in the South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation system within the East Asia region.”

“The U.S. policy of one-sidedly favoring Japan could ultimately weaken the foundation for East Asian peace,” Sohn added.

The DP described Sohn’s statement Monday as the “Dokdo Doctrine.” DP Lawmaker and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Song Min-soon said, “It is an obvious fact that the U.S.’s misguided policy is harming the South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperative relationship within Northeast Asia, and this is an issue that requires a formal expression of concern not only from the opposition party but from the administration.”

The party also said that the principles regarding Dokdo were proceeding toward becoming “confident diplomacy.”

Sohn said, “Japan keeps needling us by taking advantage of our ‘quiet diplomacy,’ and we are not pretending we have not noticed.”

“It does not mean that we are planning to abandon our quiet diplomacy principles and have a military show of force at the present time,” he added.

Sohn also planned to visit Dokdo on Monday but was unable to due to poor weather. Some observers have been commenting on a diplomatic breach of etiquette after it emerged that the Japanese embassy called Sohn’s office prior to his planned Dokdo visit and requested that he reconsider.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]