Outline of Takeshima Issue- Installation of "Syngman Rhee Line" and Illegal Occupation of Takeshima by the Republic of Korea

8. Installation of "Syngman Rhee Line" and Illegal Occupation of Takeshima by the Republic of Korea

1. In January 1952, the President of the ROK, Syngman Rhee, issued a Declaration concerning maritime sovereignty, with which he installed the so-called "Syngman Rhee Line." Installation of this line encompassing the island of Takeshima and a large area of water with fisheries jurisdiction was a unilateral act in contravention of international law.
2. In March 1953, the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee decided to release Takeshima from the designation of a bombing range for the U.S. Forces. This enabled Japanese to resume fishing around Takeshima, but it was confirmed that Koreans were also engaging in fishing around the island. In July of the same year, a Japanese patrol vessel of the Maritime Safety Agency (now the Japan Coast Guard) that demanded Koreans engaged in illegal fishing to leave Takeshima was fired upon by Korean authorities who were protecting the Korean fishermen.
3. In June 1954, the ROK Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the ROK Coast Guard had dispatched a permanent battalion to Takeshima. In August of the same year, a vessel of the Maritime Safety Agency on patrol near Takeshima was fired on from the island, and with this incident, it was confirmed that the ROK security personnel had been stationed on Takeshima.
4. Since then, the ROK has kept security personnel stationed on Takeshima and constructed lodgings, a monitoring facility, a lighthouse, and port and docking facilities.
5. The installation of the "Syngman Rhee Line" is illegal delineation over international waters and the occupation of Takeshima by the ROK is an illegal occupation undertaken on no basis of international law. No measure taken by the ROK during its illegal occupation concerning Takeshima has any legal justification. Such act is never acceptable, given Japan's position as to its sovereignty over Takeshima. Japan has been consistently making strong protests against each and every measure taken by the ROK and demanding the withdrawal of the measure.