The Japanese government, in an unprecedented move, has acknowledged the existence of a 19th-century document that could prove Japan's longstanding claim over Dokdo, a set of South Korean islets, to be groundless.
In a recent letter to Yonhap News Agency, Japan's Foreign Ministry said it was aware of an 1877 document sent by the Japanese Cabinet to other government offices as an official instruction.
The document describes Dokdo and nearby Ulleungdo as not being part of Japan, and says the islands should not be included in its territory on official maps.
It apparently undermines a claim by Japan's government and scholars that Dokdo historically belongs to the island country.
Contrary to the contents of the document, Japan has long maintained that the country effectively controlled the territory from ancient times and it reaffirmed its ownership in 1905 through a decree by Shimane Prefecture.
Yonhap has endeavored for more than a year to collect the opinions of Japan's government and political parties on the issue.
Responding to Yonhap's latest written inquiry sent to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, however, the ministry said it knows about the existence of the document drawn up by the Japanese government body called "Daijokan" in Japanese and "Taejeonggwan" in Korean.
But it refused to comment further, saying a related investigation and analysis is under way.
It is the first time for the Japanese government to officially recognize the document itself.
Historians here said it would damage Japan's decades-old campaign to justify its claim to Dokdo.
"The Taejeonggwan note is a decisive document to support South Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo, and for Japan it is like an Achilles' heel," Lee Suk-woo, professor of international law at South Korea's Inha University.
A Japanese-born scholar, who asked not to be named, said that the document shows Japan ignored the official government document and carried out the imperialistic act of declaring its ownership in 1905.
"But Japan may try to fabricate related facts," he said.
South Korea has warned Japan to stop claiming Dokdo.
In a special statement earlier this year, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Japan's claim to Dokdo is an act that denies Korea's complete liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule.
The two neighboring nations have deep differences in interpretation of their shared past. South Korea regularly accuses Japan of attempting to distort history.
Seoul, Nov. 20 (Yonhap News)
Tokyo admits existence of gov't document identifying Dokdo as non-Japanese territory |
