South Korea’s new maritime minister said Monday he will actively consider building a new, modernized pier on the country’s easternmost islets of Dokdo for easier public access, a move aimed at enhancing the country’s control of the islets that are also claimed by Japan.
“Efforts to build a public access facility on Dokdo have been temporarily suspended due to some issues, including environmental concerns,” Yoo Ki-june said.
“But I will actively consider resuming the project as I believe such a move is a necessary part of exercising the country’s sovereignty,” he said.
South Korea regained sovereignty over its territory, including Dokdo, when it was liberated from the Japanese colonial rule in 1945 and has permanently stationed coast guard forces on the islets since 1954.
Japan, however, continues to lay claim over Dokdo, called Takeshima in Japan.
“Dokdo, in terms of history, geography and international laws, is clearly a part of South Korean territory, and the government will sternly deal with any attempt to undermine the country’s sovereignty,” Yoo said while meeting with reporters shortly after his inauguration here in Sejong.
When asked what he planned to do about a recent rise in the number of Chinese boats fishing illegally in South Korean waters, the new maritime minister said the government will firmly deal with any illegal activities in the country’s territorial waters.
“I believe we can also help reduce illegal fishing through diplomatic dialogue with China,” he said.
In his inaugural speech, the three-term lawmaker of the ruling Saenuri Party called for all-out efforts by his ministry to enhance maritime safety, calling the tragic sinking of a passenger ferry last year the result of a failure.
“We must work to be aggressive while pursuing our goals. We must not fear failure and push forward,” the new minister of oceans and fisheries was quoted as saying.
“However, in the case of safety, we must thoroughly guard against any failure.”
The ministry is still reeling from the sinking of the passenger ship, Sewol, in April that killed more than 300 people, mostly high school students on a school excursion. Investigations showed that the ministry and other agencies that are in charge of public safety had been lax in their inspections and in their immediate responses to the tragedy.
“Through a series of accidents, we have come up with a number of (safety) measures while also making significant improvements to the law and the system. But we must check thoroughly to see how such changes are actually applied out in the field,” Yoo said.
He also vowed to develop the country’s fishery industry, partly by boosting its exports.
“I will work with those in the fishing industry to make the Korea-China free trade agreement open up China’s vast market into a great chance to increase exports,” he said.
Yoo, a lawyer-turned-lawmaker, is a native of Busan, the country’s largest port city. He served as chairman of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and unification until he was nominated as the new maritime minister last month. (Yonhap)
