The government will ask the Chinese government to rectify the description of South Korea's Ieodo Islet as Chinese on a Web site of a state agency of China, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Friday.
The Web site states that the islet is China's, arguing it lies within China' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The site also referred to the islet as ``Suyan Rock'' in Chinese.
``South Korea and China agreed in 2006 that the Ieodo Islet is a submerged rock, not an island, so that it would not be subject to a territorial dispute,'' the official told reporters, asking not to be named.
``The Internet site referring to Ieodo as Chinese territory is against the agreement. So, we will take necessary measures to rectify the territorial claim, including demanding the Chinese foreign ministry correct the record,'' he said.
He dismissed the claim that Ieodo is in China's EEZ.
``Ieodo is located 81 nautical miles southwest of our island of Marado, and 147 nautical miles northeast of China. There is no doubt that Ieodo is in our EEZ,'' the official added.
Yes, let's not dispute this land because it's a submerged reef and thus not subject to a territorial claim. And because it's ours. Referring to the site by a Korean name seems equally territorial, and, you know, I'm sick of seeing the word "rectify" thrown around whenever somebody disagrees with something. An overview of "Socotra Rock" available from Wikipedia here. There's a Korean-language website about the spot here, which reminds us that January 18th is apparently Ieodo Day. But let's not dispute this land.
Korean-built heliport on the reef's research center.
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