UN scretary general calls for dialogue on Dokdo

Ban Ki-moon U.N. Secretary General

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a peaceful resolution of the controversy involving Japan’s challenge to Korea’s sovereignty over its easternmost islets of Dokdo, Monday.

The comments came at a time when relations between South Korea and Japan hit rock bottom following President Lee Myung-bak’s unprecedented visit to the islets last week.

“Besides the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, I am aware of the issue (of the Dokdo islets) that Koreans here are interested in,” Ban told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade building in Seoul. He was fresh from attending the launching ceremony of the Development Alliance Korea, Seoul’s first public-private organization for effective foreign aid. “I hope the countries concerned resolve those conflicts via dialogue.”

Ban declined to make further comments on the issue. “The U.N. chief is not in a position to express a stance on territorial issues according to custom.”

The tension between the two neighboring countries rose sharply following President Lee’s landmark visit to the Dokdo islets last Friday. It was the first time for a South Korean President to make the trip, which came just days before Wednesday’s Liberation Day, which marks Korea’s independence from Japan’s 35 years of colonial rule (1910-1945).

The trip, as expected, triggered a fierce protest from Tokyo, which insists the islets are its territory.

The following day, Koichiro Gemba, Japan’s foreign minister, said Japan would take the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and recalled Masatoshi Muto, its ambassador to South Korea, to discuss countermeasures.

Seoul, meanwhile, rejected Tokyo’s move to take the issue to the ICJ. South Korea effectively controls the islets.

Asked about the prolonged standoff in inter-Korean relations, Ban said he is “thinking of ways to ease the strained situation and create opportunity for reconciliation. Peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula has a huge effect on the regional circumstances.”

“What is important is to have dialogue between the two Koreas and expand exchanges and cooperation.” Ban said.

The secretary-general also expressed deep concerns over humanitarian crises in the North, vowing efforts to expand support.

“The U.N. has paid close attention to health issues of the North’s children and damage by recent flooding, and has been making humanitarian assistance available,” said Ban. “We will expand such efforts down the road.”

However, he declined to comment on a possible visit to North Korea.

The secretary-general made a four-day visit to his native country beginning last Saturday to attend the closing ceremony of the Yeosu Expo and other various conferences and ceremonies related to global issues. <The Korea Times/Chung Min-uck>

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