Foreign Minister Chung W. Cho issued today the following Statement.

August 26, 1959

The Republic of Korea Government views with serious concern the fact that the Japanese Government has given its official endorsement to the plan of Japanese fishermen to have two private "self-defense" ships accompany those of their vessels which are fishing in the Eastern Sea.
When the Japan Pelagic Association decided at an emergency meeting held on June 22 to challenge the lawful seizure by the Korean authorities of Japanese fishing vessels encroaching the Peace Line, the Korean Government expected that the Japanese Government would take appropriate measures to prevent these Japanese fshermen from engaging in such an action. Contrary to this expectation, the Japanese Government has come to approve this plan.
One of the fundamental purposes of the Korean Government in proclaiming the Peace Line was to forestall the occurrence of fishery disputes which might develop into open conflict between Korea and Japan. This precautionary measure has been thwarted by the provocative moves of the Japanese fishermen with the endorsement of their Government.
The Korean Government cannot but regard this project as a moat unfriendly action against this Republic and also as an action of overt provocation. The decision of the Japanese Government to endorse this plan at a time when the Governments of the Republic of Korea and Japan are discussing at the conference table all the various pending issues, including the fisheries problem and the Peace Line, implies that Japan lacks in sincerity and has no true interest in resolving these differences.
The dispatch of private "self-defense" ships to the Peace Line areas to intervene in the lawful exercise of lawful rights by this Republic not only is in flagrant violation of international law, but also poses a serious threat to the security and wellbeing of the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, although the "self-defense ships in question are not to be armed now, this can be construed as making the first step toward the eventual arming of the Japanese fishing fleet operating in Peace Line areas.
In this connection, it is reported that the Japanese Foreign Office has decided to withdraw "self-defense" boats from the Peace Line areas if Korea guarantees not to seize Japanese fishing boats there while the Korea-Japan talks are under way. It is indeed illogical and even absurd that the Japanese Government should attach such a condition to its withdrawal of the "self-defense" ships.
The Korean Government sincerely hopes that the Japanese Government, as well as the Japanese fishermen, will come to realize the dangerous implications of their action in this regard and take prompt measures to withdraw the dispatch of "self-defense" ships to the Peace Line areas, thereby creating an amicable atmosphere for Korea-Japan relations, and particularly for the Korea-Japan Conference now under way.