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Korea's Prime Minister Visited
Disputed Islets |
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On Tuesday South Korea's Prime Minister Han
Seung-soo visited a set of islets at the center
of territorial disputes with Japan. He was accompanied by
Cultural and Transportation ministers and landed by helicopter
on one of the islets.
This trip comes after a bitter relationship between the two
Asian neighbors over the rocky outcroppings, called Dokdo in
Korean and Takeshima in Japanese.
Early this month the Japan government recommended to let
students learn in their school textbooks about Tokyo's claim to
the islets, but which are now under South Korean control.
Until even today, many Koreans still feel bitterness toward
Japan's colonial rule that was in
affect from 1910-1945.
South Korea recalled its ambassador from Tokyo in protest, and
demonstrators have held regular rallies in front of the Japanese
Embassy in Seoul. Meanwhile, Korea plans to hold naval drills
near the islets. That will certainly escalate the tensions in
that region.
We don't want to see such exercises turned into a full-scale
military dispute. |
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