You Say Takeshima in the Sea of Japan, I say Dokdo in the East Sea Albert Seo
For exactly 103 years from 1910 to the current year 2013 South Korea and Japan has had countless disputes over the sovereignty of Dokdo. South korea has the sovereignty over Dokdo/Takeshima because of historical claims accumulated from the Korean War, Allied powers and the Treaty of San Francisco. Specifically, in August 22, 1910 the real distinguishable feudal separation made between these two countries is the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty agreed between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire, where Japan subjugated Korea. From 1910 to 1945 could accurately be one of the darkest ages of Korea’s history. For 35 years Korea was under dark suppression from the Japanese Ruler Emperor. Then in 1945 August 15, Korea gains independence again and is freed from Japanese rule due to the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea. Although Japan and Korea officially normalized their relations in 1965, these neighbours remain prudent of each other because of their awkward history when Japan annexed Korea and oppressed the Koreans in many ways. Korean scholars believe strongly that this annexation was ‘‘illegal’’ and that it violated an international law when it occurred. Japanese scholars tend to admit that the Japanese occupation of Korea was brutal and caused enormous suffering, but they are reluctant to acknowledge that the annexation was ‘‘illegal’’, because other great