Scholar Advises Strategic Approach on

Dokdo Issue

This is the fourth in a series of articles highlighting Dokdo’s history, environment, old maps, folklore, the possibility of an international court decision on the East Sea islets and the law of the sea. This series is a joint project of The Korea Times and the Northeast Asian History Foundation. ― ED.

A prominent legal scholar says Korea should adopt a long-term, cautious approach in dealing with the emotionally charged issue of Dokdo. He warned that some Korean politicians are taking a populist approach, which in the long run may not necessarily advance Korea''s interests.
Park Chun-ho, a judge serving in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and a professor emeritus at Korea University, is a leading authority on international marine law. In an interview with The Korea Times, he said the Japanese government is being ``very small-minded'' about the Dokdo issue, but that doesn''t mean Korea needs to resort to raw emotion whenever Japan claims sovereignty over the islets, he added.

* You can find the full text at <The Korea Times>.