The Japanese government has recently noted its territorial claim to Dokdo Island (Takeshima in Japanese) in middle school history textbooks beyond their vocal insists. And also Japanese lobbyists began to aggressively petition the American Library of Congress to officially change the authorized name of the island to the Japanese name Takeshima, and to re-categorize the island's subject heading as a Japanese territory. In response to this, New York Korean society and other Korean groups are voicing their criticism.

"This is a provocative act towards Korea," said Yi, Yong-Chan, of the New York Kwangbok Association (a Korean Independence Group). Yi added, "Japan has historically attempted to claim Dokdo as its territory. This is part of Japan's consistent and greedy desire for territorial expansion that has been accompanied by announcements to the Korean government of a wish to improve good relations between the two countries. But this is only a political gesture." Yi said, "I can no longer abide by this political foul play. We intend to demonstrate against these new demands at the Japanese consulate in New York. We are going to begin a campaign against this territorial aggression."

Yi, Se-mok, the chairman of the New York Korean Association said, "Japan's claims on Dokdo sovereignty are provocative acts against us. We will demonstrate along with a large number of Korean leaders in front of the consulate. We also plan to set up a committee that will oversee our campaign.

The committee will begin its work by drafting a letter to American politicians urging their objection and intercession against a change by the Library of Congress in the island's name from Dokdo to Takeshima. Next, it will begin an educational campaign to provide the American public with a historical context and information regarding Japan's territorial infringement with regard to the island,

which has been a Korean territory since the year 512. Historical documents from Korea's Shilla Dynasty first refer to the island as Usankuk.

Dokdo consists of two tiny rocky islets 90 kilometers off of South Korea's Ullung Island, and some 157 kilometers from Japan's Oki Island. It is roughly 16,6oo square nautical miles of fertile fishing grounds, an area that is also estimated to contain perhaps as much as 600 million tons of gas hydrate.

Japan occupied this beautiful land for a 36-year occupation of Korea. During WWII, Imperial Japan renamed the island "Maizaru" and placed it off limits for any but military purposes, making it a naval base for the expansion of Japanese territory, until 1945.

Chin, Jae-kon, the leader of the Korean Veterans' Association in Northeast America said, "This recent request by the Japanese government is akin to a revival of Japanese militarism, and is a threat to peace in East Asia."

But there is a very different view among other Koreans. Some people noted that, "Effectively, no one is as concerned with this issue as is South Korea. Our best plan is to inform the international community about Japan's intentions. We do not want to do anything that would raise international sympathy towards Japan's strong lobby. This might happen if we appear too vociferous, or fail to provide factual, historical information regarding Dokdo as a Korean territory." This point is that we should take a prudent attitude.

"According to international law, territorial disputes should be settled by international organizations. Japan's territorial claims to Dokdo in its school texts should be considered an international issue, and any reaction to these claims should come at the international level. Chong, Jae-gon, the chairman of New York Korean society's Korean Businessman's Association, Inc., insists. “But it seems that Japan is confident that any international reaction will be in its favor. We must find ways to address these claims that do not bring about a sympathetic reaction towards Japan on this issue."