In a surprising turn of events, South Korea has said it will remove part of a monument it constructed on one of the islands also claimed by Japan.
According to Asahi Shimbun, the foundation of the monument was built without the permission from the Cultural Heritage Administration and will be removed. The monument where the words “Dokdo” and “Daehanminguk” (Republic of Korea) are engraved will remain.
The inscription “President Lee Myung-bak, Summer of 2012” signifies the president’s unprecedented visit to the islands, an action which inflamed tensions between South Korea and Japan. Japan proposed to take the dispute to the International Court of Justice in a letter to Mr. Lee. South Korea said it would return the letter accompanied by an official refusal of the proposal.
