Japan Maritime Security Agency conducts investigation by claiming that it is inside the ship’s own EEZ
Japanese media “continue investigation activities despite demands to stop the Korean maritime police”
Japan Maritime Security Agency survey ship’Shoyo’
The Korean Coast Guard demanded a cessation of conducting maritime investigations, claiming that the Japanese government ships are within its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but there was an incident that Japanese ships continued their investigation activities. On the 12th, Japan and others said, “At 3:25 am on the 11th, the Korean Maritime Police Agency’s vessel requested to stop the investigation activity by radio from the sea 139km west of Mesima in Nagasaki Prefecture’s Goto Islands to the Japanese Maritime Security Agency survey ship’Shoyo’. Reported. This sea, which Japan called the Goto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture, is located in the southeast of Jeju Island. According to Japanese media reports, the Korean Maritime Police Agency’s ship approached’Shoyo’ and said, “This is Korean territorial waters. In order to investigate marine science, prior consent of the Korean government is required.” Japanese media reported that the request to stop the investigation continued for 6 hours until 9:20 am, then paused and repeated until 4:50 pm when another ship approached from the Korean side at 12:5 pm. However, it is known that the Japanese side rejected South Korea’s request, saying it was its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continued its investigation. Japanese Minister Kato Katsunobu said at a regular press conference that day, “The Maritime Security Administration’s survey vessel conducted a legitimate investigation within the exclusive economic zone of our country,” and “delivered through diplomatic channels that the request from the Korean side cannot be accommodated.” The Japan Maritime Security Agency plans to continue its investigation activity until next month. Reported that, “in August of last year, Korean ships requested a suspension of Japanese surveying vessels conducting maritime surveys within the exclusive economic zone.” The exclusive economic zone is a water area under the United Nations Maritime Law that can exercise the exclusive right of resources up to 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) off its coast, and it is decided by mutual agreement when the waters between neighboring countries overlap. By Kim So-yeon, staff reporter [email protected]