Location map of Goto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. yunhap news
On the 11th, a Japanese survey ship in the southeastern part of Jeju and a ship from the Korean Maritime Police Agency took place on the 11th.
According to Kyodo News Agency, at around 3:25 a.m. on the morning of that day, the Korean Maritime Police Agency ships from the sea 139 km west of Mesima in the southwest of Nagasaki Prefecture’s Goto Islands, towards the Japanese Maritime Security Agency survey ship “Shoyo”. Requested to stop investigating activity over this radio
Japan Maritime Security Agency survey ship’Shoyo’. yunhap news
Accordingly, the Japanese government protested to the Korean government through diplomatic channels, claiming that it was a legitimate investigation in its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
On this day, the Korean Maritime Police Agency’s vessel approached Shoyo and said, “This is the Korean sea area. Prior consent from the Korean government is required to conduct marine scientific research. Immediately stop the investigation.”
However, the Japanese side rejected the Korean side’s request at the scene, saying, “This is a legitimate investigation activity in our EEZ.” It is reported that the Maritime Security Administration plans to continue the investigation activity, which started this month, until next month.
The EEZ is a water area under the United Nations Maritime Law that can exercise the exclusive rights of resources up to 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from its coast. If the waters between neighboring countries overlap, mutual consultation is required.
The sea 139km west of Mesima, where the Korean Coast Guard ships and the Japan Maritime Security Agency survey ships confront, is the sea off the southeast of Jeju, an overlapping water range of 200 nautical miles on both coasts of Korea and Japan.
A similar thing happened last August. At that time, the Japanese surveyor Heiyo (平洋) began an investigation and demanded that the Korean maritime vessels stop, and the Japanese government also protested against the Korean government at the time.
Reporter Han Young-hye [email protected]