ABSTRACT
During the signing of the 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea, Seoul stated through an official pronouncement that Dokdo, also known as Takeshima in Japan or the Liancourt Rocks in the West, is a Korean territory; therefore, the Dokdo issue should not be included in the exchange document. Korea does not recognise this as a dispute; the only theoretical method at the moment to move forward is for both countries to admit that Dokdo is not an island, but a rock. Then, instead of setting the exclusive economic zone from Dokdo, the zone’s boundary line will be set between Ulleung Island and Oki Island. Accordingly, it is assessed that such a solution to the Dokdo issue and the issue of the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone between Korea and Japan will bring benefits to both nations without much trouble.
