Jaunted

South Korea Travel

Pacific Island Name Games: Takeshima or Dokdo?

August 4, 2008 at 3:00 PM | 2 Comments

What you call these Pacific isles depends on who you are: Named the Liancourt Rocks for a French whaler that was almost marooned there, they are currently the subject of a bitter border dispute between Japan and South Korea, so it matters whether you call them Takeshima (Bamboo Islands) or Dokdo (Solitary Island).

Japan unofficially assumed control of the islands during World War II, but it was only recently that natural gas deposits were discovered underneath the territory, making them potentially much more valuable.

Both countries' claims have inspired T-shirt slogans and ringtones, neither of which were available in previous border disputes--otherwise we might all be humming "54'40" or Fight!"

Related Stories:
· Who Owns These Islands? Map [Jaunted]
· Disputed Korean Rocks Bring Banking, Ring Tones [AP]

[Photo: nolisiso]