Liancourt Rocks

The Liancourt Rocks, known in Korea as Dokdo (Korean: 독도) and in Japan as Takeshima (Japanese: 竹島), are a group of islets in the Sea of Japan between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese archipelago administered by South Korea. The Liancourt Rocks comprise two main islets and 89 smaller rocks; the total surface area of the islets is 19 hectares (47 acres) and the highest elevation of 168.5 metres (553 ft) is on the West Islet. The Liancourt Rocks lie in rich fishing grounds that may contain large deposits of natural gas. The English name Liancourt Rocks is derived from Le Liancourt, the name of a French whaling ship that came close to being wrecked on the rocks in 1849. South Korea exercises sovereignty over the islets, while Japan claims sovereignty over them. The South Korean government's stated position is that the islets are an integral part of Korean territory historically, geographically and under international law, that no territorial dispute exists over them, and that they are therefore not a matter to be dealt with through diplomatic negotiation or judicial settlement. North Korea formerly claimed the territory, but has reportedly ceased its claim, following the country's abandoning of all goals of reunification with the South. South Korea classifies the islets as Dokdo-ri, Ulleung-eup, Ulleung County, North Gyeongsang Province, while Japan classifies the islands as part of Okinoshima, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0