독도의 주권과 해양 경계 획정

  • Published : 2005.05.01

Abstract

Dokdo, a group of 33 small and rocky Islets, in the East Sea have been administered by Korea for years since 1953 and are currently occupied by Korean Police Unit. Located about 217Km off the eastern border of Korea and 87Km east of UIleung Island in North Gyeongsang Province. Situated in the East Sea of Korea, Dokdo itself has valuable strategic implications for Korea as well as another countries such as Russia, Japan, U.SA etc. The first historical testimonies to Dokdo were in Korean documents referring to it as a part of an independent island district known as Ulleung Island(Usanguk), which was incorporated into Silla Kingdom in 512 A.D. in '1454 Sejong Authentic History'. Historically, since at least 1881, the island has been called Dokdo by Koreans, meaning 'Rock Island' or 'Lonely Island'. Also Korea, which regained a full sovereignty and have exercised it for decades continuously, keeps a small police detachment on the Island. That is, Dokdo is under effective control of Korea until today. Therefore Dokdo, which is a problem that is related to our territory and sovereignty, is clearly a cluster of Islands of Korea.

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