Japan’s critical remark on the South Korean prime minister’s earlier visit to the Dokdo islets is not even worth a response, the premier’s office said Wednesday, opting to keep mum on the issue officially….
“Japan’s remark is not even worth an official comment,” said Kim Wang-ki, a spokesman for the prime minister. “There cannot be a controversy over the prime minister visiting his country’s territory.”
No finger cutting. No pheasant killing. No crazy pronouncements about “diplomatic war” or any such drivel.
Just a Korean government official having a leisurely stroll on a piece of real estate where Japanese officials can’t go.
Beautiful.
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
“There cannot be a controversy… [-insert controversial statement here-] .”
You’re right that it’s a step in the right direction. It would have been nice if he could have said “nee-ner, nee-ner”, or something similar in closing, though.
A pleasant surprise.
I’ve always liked this guy. He’s been a steady stalwart with decades of diplomatic experience. He was a former ambassador to the US. He took a real beating by the opposition party during the beef crisis and his calm replies during the question and answer periods really impressed me. To many Koreans he probably may look like an arrogant deadwood because he shows no emotions and he doesn’t launch into hysterical diatrabes to put on a show. It’s really too bad Korea doesn’t have more politicians like him.
Did you say a pheasant surprise?
I think someday Koreans shall realize that they are better off withdrawing from Dokdo.
I used to have high esteem of Koreans until I found they have a whole lot of questionable arguments, such as Chinese characters are invented by Koreans, Dokdo is Korean territory and so on. From that time, I got a habit of doubting whatever a Korean says.
I think the number of people who automatically doubt anything spoken by Koreans is rapidly increasing, thanks to their heavy exposure through internet. As long as they keep Dokdo, they have to protect their dubious arguments about Dokdo, which will just discredit them.
Look at this page on Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan about “the East Sea”.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/study-3.html
By reading, anyone will feel disbelief of Koreans.
I find Koreans tend to care nothing about how foreigners see them. But day shall come they find Dokdo is not worth their credibility.
“Chinese characters are invented by Koreans, ”
That’s not even a main stream belief. It’s almost as bad example as the “Koreans claim Mao Ze Tung was a Korean”, or “Koreans claim Confucius is Korean” claims.
If you want to show how irrational Koreans are, there are plenty of other real examples to use.
J, what about your belief?
“Japan had direct contact with southern China, and taught Chinese written language to mainland Korea”
thus, both use the Oh-eum (Kingdom of Wu)
right?
This should be nonsense, but let’s see what you have to say.
“I think someday Koreans shall realize that they are better off withdrawing from Dokdo.”
Highly unlikely.
Actually, they would be better off not spending so much time and energy obsessing over territory they have controlled for the last 55 years. They’ve got it and nobody is going to take it away.
Actually, he’s responding by saying so, and smearing it on Japan, too. If he really keeps his mouth shut, then he’s really onto something. But he’s not.
And don’t tell me a prime ministerial visit to the island isn’t in line with the usual saber-rattling.
J:
If you want to convince people here, a Japanese government source is the last thing you should cite.
Good advice Andy…
I agree that Han’s minimalist comments would have been best made at a Seoul podium, and on the first day or two after the Japan textbook announcement. Indeed, every South Korean press statement on Dokdo should be one or two similarly dismissive sentences.
Regrettably, though, the whole issue triggers an avalanche of nationwide gestalt therapy every time it surfaces. I feel sympathy, but wonder– should Korea let it be so easy for Japan to push its buttons?
Apparantly, Bush has ordered Rice to review the issue of the designation of Dokdo as a disputed territory on the web site.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/07/116_28521.html
“Retmil” had a great comment:
“I can just imagine the request from President Bush…’Uh, Condi, could you review the Doodie Island naming for that korean country? Wasn’t it the same pissant country bitching about US beef last week? Screw ‘em. But I do like their massage parlors.’ “
J,
I heard that Japan claims that Gengis Khan was a japanese samurai.
They even sent an university research team to Mongolia to find his tomb to prove that he is really japanese.
Isn’t it curious?
George Bush will return the Dokdo database back to what it was 7 days ago.
http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/07/31/2008073100139.html
#14:
Don’t tell me you’ve read that bogus book “Mongolia, the lost country” Lencia.
“I heard that Japan claims that Gengis Khan was a Japanese samurai. They even sent an university research team to Mongolia to find his tomb to prove that he is really Japanese. Isn’t it curious?”
Not really. Because it’s the combination of two misinformation.
The claim of Genghis Khan being a Japanese samurai called Minamoto no Yositsune goes back to early 1920′s when an evangelical wrote a best seller book based on his thesis after he returned from his trip in Manchuria. All of the historian and academic at the time had refuted this, yet this allowed the thesis nation wide attention.
The various expedition for the tomb hunting by Japanese university is purely academic. Professor Shiraishi from Niigata University had actually found ritual site of the khan and possible site of Chinghis tomb, although he suspended the excavation due to the local sentiment.
Speak softly and carry a big stick type eh. I think that’s a good way to make your point. I just wish other members of the government would do that too. Calling back the ambassador and starting war games doesn’t exactly show that you’re a skilled diplomatic nation. This guy needs to be making more important decisions.
J, I think you’ve confused Hanja (한자) with Hangul (한글). To make it more easier for you to understand the difference, Hanja is “Kanji” whereas Hangul is “Hanguru”. And yes, Hangul (or rather, hunminjeongeum) was invented by Koreans.
Also, just because Koreans have a different view of Dokdo and the East Sea does not give you the authority to classify them as liars. As a Korean, it is obvious to me that you’re the one with the narrow, biased mind.
One more thing. Maybe you should read the Korean government’s articles on the East Sea and Dokdo…
#5, You don’t need to worry when the person a good number of Koreans worship, Jesus, actually ended up as a Japanese rice farmer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/5326614.stm
Aceface,
Thanks for you information.
I didn’t read that book but I know that the purpose of the research is indeed to prove that Gengins Khan was Japanese. Otherwise why would the Japanese be interested in Gengis Khan?
Jesus a Japanese?
I will change my religion.
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