JAPANESE EMBASSY REPORTS TOKYO TO BEGIN MAPPING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001271

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015
TAGS: PBTS PHSA PREL EFIS MOPS KS JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE EMBASSY REPORTS TOKYO TO BEGIN MAPPING
OPERATIONS IN DISPUTED WATERS ON APRIL 21

REF: A. TOKYO 2072

B. SEOUL 1246

Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).

SUMMARY
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1. (C) The Japanese Embassy in Seoul informed us April 18
that Japan will begin mapping operations on April 21 in
waters that both Tokyo and Seoul claim as within their
Exclusive Economic Zone. Japanese Embassy First Secretary
Yamamoto told poloff that if faced with physical resistance
by ROK forces, the Japanese would cease operations in order
to avoid a confrontation. Vice Foreign Minister Yachi has
been in touch with ROK Ambassador to Japan Ra Jong-il in
search of a compromise, but Yamamoto expressed pessimism that
common ground could be found. COMMENT: All of the major
Korean media outlets are carrying dramatic coverage of this
issue, with numerous references to a "full-blown
confrontation" or a "physical clash" between the two
countries. Many of the media reports have equated the issue
with the two countries' dispute over the Dokdo/Takeshima
Islands. Given that the ROK is in the middle of a political
campaign, and the neuralgic Korean attitude toward Japan, it
will be difficult for the Roh Administration to compromise on
this issue. END SUMMARY.

ROK INTENDING TO PROPOSE "POLITICAL" NAMES TO SCUFN
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2. (C) Poloff met on April 18 with Japanese Embassy First
Secretary Yasushi Yamamoto to discuss the controversy between

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the ROK and Japan over Japanese plans to conduct maritime
mapping operations in an area both sides claim as part of
their Exclusive Economic Zones. (POL M/C's appointment to
discuss the issue with Lee Hyuck, Director General for Asian
Affairs, was canceled because Lee was testifying on the
controversy at the National Assembly.) Yamamoto repeated ref
A explanation that Japan needed to conduct mapping operations
of the seabed in preparation for the June meeting of the
Subcommittee on Undersea Features Names (SCUFN) in Germany.
According to Yamamoto, the ROK intended to propose
"political" names for many of the submarine features in the
area and Japan needed the mapping information in order to
prepare a counterproposal.

JAPAN WILL NOT ENTER AREA AROUND LIANCOURT ROCKS
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3. (C) Although Tokyo had announced that it intended to
undertake mapping operations in a large section of the
disputed area, in fact it would only conduct operations in
the far western corner of the area, Yamamoto explained. He
added that the mapping operations would approach, but not
enter, the twelve-mile area around the Liancourt Rocks (known
in Korea as the Dokdo Islands and in Japan as the Takeshima
Islands).

JAPAN WILL NOT RISK HOSTILITIES . . .
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4. (C) Yamamoto said Japan had announced the operations
would be conducted by the end of June. In fact, Tokyo had
informed the ROK that two unarmed Japanese Coast Guard
vessels would begin operations on April 21. The ROK had made
clear that it would physically repel the Japanese ships.
Yamamoto said that even if the area involved were
indisputably in South Korea's EEZ, Japan would still have the
right to conduct mapping operations within the area without
requesting permission. Although it would be an act of war
for the ROK to seize or board the ships and Japan would have
Coast Guard vessels within a half-day's sailing time, Japan
would cease its operations if confronted and would not risk
hostilities, said Yamamoto.

. . . BUT PESSIMISTIC ABOUT A COMPROMISE
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5. (C) Yamamoto reported that Japanese Vice Foreign Minister
Yachi had met April 17 with ROK Ambassador to Japan Ra
Jong-il to seek a compromise on the issue. If the ROK were
to promise not to propose new names at the SCUFN meeting,

Japan might agree not to undertake mapping operations.
Noting that ROK President Roh Moo-hyun was meeting with Uri
Party representatives that same afternoon, however, and that
closely-contested local elections were scheduled in the ROK
for next month, Yamamoto pronounced himself pessimistic on
the chances of finding a compromise.
VERSHBOW