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Japan and South Korea averted a bitter naval showdown over a deserted group of islands that is rich fishing ground and reportedly over billions of dollars worth of unexplored fossil fuels by agreeing to stand down and engage in dialogue. Japan has agreed to stop a major naval survey and South Korea has decided not to name under-water features with Korean names pending dialogue and resolution.
The islands called Tokto in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese was colonized by Japan about a century ago claiming that the islands had a history of being part of Japan. It then used these islands as staging ground for invasion and eventual occupation of the Korean peninsula. South Korean accuses Japan of trying to legitimize its colonial tendencies and reliving history. North Korea had promised the South it will come to its aid in the fight against Japan to stop it from historical “distortion” and “scheming to rob Tokto.” |
