韓国提訴拒否 竹島はやはり国際裁判が筋だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 1, 2012)
Take Takeshima row to ICJ despite South Korea's refusal
韓国提訴拒否　竹島はやはり国際裁判が筋だ（8月31日付・読売社説）

It is crucial for the government to persist in its attempt to resolve the dispute with South Korea over the Takeshima islands at the International Court of Justice.
　あくまで国際司法裁判所（ＩＣＪ）の法廷での決着を追求し続けることが重要である。

South Korea recently delivered a letter to Japan officially refusing Tokyo's proposal to jointly refer the two nations' territorial dispute over the islands, which are a part of Shimane Prefecture, to the ICJ.
　島根県・竹島の領有権問題を日韓両国がＩＣＪに共同付託するとの日本政府の提案について、韓国政府は拒否する口上書を日本側に渡した。

In a statement, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said he was "extremely disappointed" with Seoul's reply. The Japanese government is now moving toward unilaterally filing a suit with the ICJ, and the Foreign Ministry has begun drafting a petition to that end.
　玄葉外相は、韓国側回答に「極めて失望」したとする談話を発表した。外務省は、ＩＣＪへの日本単独の提訴に向けて、訴状の作成などの準備作業を始めている。

The government previously asked South Korea to take the Takeshima dispute to the ICJ in 1954 and 1962, but gave up on the idea after Seoul rejected both requests. If Japan alone files suit with the ICJ, it will be the first time the territorial row is brought before the U.N. court.
　政府は１９５４年と６２年にＩＣＪ提訴を韓国に提案したが、韓国に拒否された段階で断念した。単独提訴を行えば、初めてだ。

Since Japan's requests were made before it normalized diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1965, we presume Japanese governments at the time gave up on taking the dispute to the ICJ because it hoped to keep friction with South Korea from reaching a critical stage.
　当時は６５年の国交正常化前であり、韓国との決定的対立を避ける外交的配慮があったのだろう。

However, South Korean President Lee Myung Bak went beyond acceptable limits recently by ignoring Japan's requests and visiting the Takeshima islands, a move aimed mainly at boosting his administration's flagging popularity. This act cannot be overlooked, and we see it as entirely appropriate for Japan to take the matter to the ICJ on its own.
だが、李明博大統領が政権浮揚の思惑などから竹島訪問を強行し、重大な一線を越えた事実は重い。単独提訴は当然の対応である。

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South Korea's far-fetched claims

If South Korea believes its territorial claim to the Takeshima islands is sound, it should agree with Japan's request to bring the dispute to the ICJ and state its views openly before the international tribunal.
　韓国は、自らの領有権が正当だと考えるなら、ＩＣＪ提訴に応じ、法廷で堂々と主張すべきだ。

South Korea had not yet joined the United Nations when Japan made its two previous requests, but the nation is now a key member of the organization, touting itself as "Global Korea." Such a country should not hesitate to use international means of dispute resolution.
過去の日本の提訴提案時は、国連未加盟だったが、今は主要な加盟国で「グローバル・コリア」を標榜(ひょうぼう)しているのだから、なおさらだ。

In its written reply to Japan's request, the South Korean government stated that the Takeshima islands are "an integral part of the territory of South Korea, a fact that is unequivocal from historical and geographical standpoints, as well as under international law."
The reply also stated that "no territorial dispute exists" over the islands.
　韓国側は口上書で、竹島は「歴史的、地理的、国際法的に明白な韓国の不可分の領土」「いかなる紛争もない」などと強弁した。

Sources close to the matter said South Korean government representatives told their Japanese counterparts that the islands "first fell victim to Japan when the Korean Peninsula was invaded and pillaged as a result of Japanese imperialism."
"[The islands] returned to South Korea through the Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Declaration and Japan's unconditional surrender" in World War II, the South Korean representatives were quoted as saying.
　竹島が「日本帝国主義の韓半島侵奪の過程で初めて犠牲になった」「カイロ宣言、ポツダム宣言及び日本の無条件降伏を通じて韓国領土に回復した」とも、日本側に口頭で伝えたという。

However, Japan's dominion over the Takeshima islands was established by the 17th century when the islands were used for fishing and other purposes. After World War II, the South Korean government asked the United States to grant the islands to South Korea, but the United States refused. South Korea later unilaterally established the Syngman Rhee Line border and illegally occupied the islands.
　だが、日本は１７世紀には竹島を漁場などに利用し、領有権を確立した。大戦後、韓国は竹島を韓国領とするよう米国に要請したが、拒否されたため、一方的に「李承晩ライン」を設定し、不法占拠した。

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Show world legitimacy of claim

Even if Japan files suit with the ICJ, a trial will not be held if South Korea continues to refuse to participate. However, the action would have no small impact, as it would be a precious opportunity for Japan to make its case for the legitimacy of its territorial claims before the global community, and history will note South Korea's refusal to allow the matter to be heard by the international court.
　日本が単独提訴しても、韓国が裁判を拒否し続けた場合、公判は開かれない。それでも、日本が国際社会に竹島の領有権の正当性をアピールするとともに、日本の提訴を韓国が拒否した事実を歴史に残す意義は小さくあるまい。

It is undeniable that past Japanese administrations, including those when the Liberal Democratic Party was in power, avoided focusing too much on the Takeshima issue, worrying it would sour Japan's relationship with South Korea. We think the Japanese government should make a first step toward rectifying its past weakness by taking the suit to the ICJ.
　日本は、自民党政権時代を含め、日韓関係の悪化を懸念して、竹島問題で主張を抑制してきたことは否めない。単独提訴をその対応を改める一歩とすべきだ。

However, South Korea's position as an important neighbor to Japan will not change. The two countries need to continue to cooperate on various issues, such as North Korea and further economic partnership.
　一方で、韓国が重要な隣国であることに変わりはない。北朝鮮問題、経済連携など、日韓両国が取り組むべき案件は多い。

It will probably be difficult to improve the Japan-South Korea relationship before Lee's term expires in February, but we urge the government to make proper efforts to maintain a dialogue with South Korea.
　来年２月までの李大統領在任中に日韓関係を改善するのは難しいとしても、対話や協議はきちんと継続することが大切である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2012)
（2012年8月31日01時19分 読売新聞）