English opinion: Viewed from Physiographical Angle

Last year Japan recorded in her “defence white paper 2009” once again that Tok Islet is her “land”, though it belongs to the sacred territory of Korea.

The country revealed over again her ambition to wrest Tok Islet from Korea by sticking to her own views that this island was her “land” through the distortion and fabrication of history.

Both from the physiographical and historical point of view and in view of practices of international law, the fact that Tok Islet belongs to the Korean territory has already been clearly ascertained and confirmed on the basis of many historical materials and legal grounds.

Recently, too, historical materials giving proof of this fact have been discovered in succession.

However, Japan is insisting stubbornly and openly on her “right of ownership” of Tok Islet. This is an act of flagrant infringement on the dignity and sovereignty of the Korean nation.

Below the Korea Today editorial department is printing a serial article dedicated to the clarification of unreasonableness of “the right of ownership” of Tok Islet asserted by Japan.

Originally, Tok Islet was recorded in Korean history in the name of Usan-do. Later, it was called Sambong-do, Kaji-do, Sok-do, etc. and since the closing days of the 19th century it has been called Tok-do as today.

This islet is an inseparable part of Korea’s realm of nature representing the eastern boundary of its territory.

Out of the islands and islets on the East Sea of Korea the islet is the farthest eastward away from the land. It is composed of dozens of rocky islets of various sizes, including So and Tong islets. Tok Islet is 171 000 m² in the gross area of which So Islet covers a space of 102 000 m², and Tong Islet 69 000 m². They are 3.14 km in the gross circumference, of which So Islet is 1.75 km round and Tong Islet 1.39 km round.

So and Tong islets lie with the distance of nearly 330 m in between. So Islet is 171 m above sea level and Tong Islet 93 m.

Korea’s Ullung Island is 87.4 km (47.2 n. miles) distant from Tok Islet. But Oki Islet of Japan is 157.5 km (85 n. miles) distant from Tok Islet. So it is 70.1 km (37.9 n. miles) more distant from Tok Islet. It is said that when the weather is fine, Ulling Island is plainly visible from Tok Islet, but Oki Islet is totally out of sight. Tok Islet is a volcanic mass which was formed almost in the same geological age along with Paektu and other Korean volcanoes.

With cliffs and caves caused by marine erosion fitting in well with the surrounding sea, Tok Islet presents attractive scenes of nature and unique geological structure rarely to be seen in other islands, and has precious mineral resources not to be found in the land, including methane hydrate and phosphorite resources, and abounds in aquatic resources. Little wonder that this islet has been attracting the attention of the people living in its vicinities since long ago.

Tok Islet is a Korean islet which has been enjoying the love of the Korean people as a part of the natural world of Korea ever since its coming into being in the East Sea of Korea on account of its plentiful natural resources and natural scenery out of the common.

Dr. and Assoc. Prof. Kim Ryong Hung,

chief of the Marine Geology Department,

Faculty of Geology, Kim Il Sung University

From: KOREA Today, 1-2010