History in the making

This one is a somewhat rambling piece, maybe an op-ed, about Japan and Korea fighting over a small islet.  The big translation issue here is that I'm not sure if I captured the tone of the article well. It's hard to say since despite all my reading of Japanese news, it still feels like sometimes I understand what they're saying without feeling the intended emotion, though they may be clearly trying to communicate it.  In this case, I think I've delivered the intended meaning of the article relatively well, though some of my translation is still a little clunky towers the end. But how does the writer actually feel about this whole dispute...vaguely pro-Japan from what I can tell.  Thoughts?

李大統領、すがる「愛国」 任期中の関係修復難しく

【ソウル＝黒田勝弘】韓国の李明博大統 領の竹島（韓国名・独島）訪問は、日本へ の外交的配慮をまったく無視した、きわめ て挑発的で非友好的な行動だ。韓国は１ ９５０年代以来、竹島に対する“実力支 配”のためあらゆることを一方的にやって きた。「対日強硬策で残るは大統領訪問と 海兵隊駐屯だけ」といわれてきたが、李 大統領は、その一つをやってしまった。

政権末期の李大統領が大胆な行動に踏み 切ったのは、ひとえに「独島を訪問した初 めての大統領」という業績を歴史に残した い政治的計算からだ。

この結果、日韓関係が最悪の状態になる ことは間違いない。李大統領は現在、政権 末期で人気は底をついている。「個人的な 強い思いから」といわれるが、あまりの強 硬外交で来年２月の任期切れまで対日関係 修復は難しい。

日本と領土紛争になっている「独島」 は、韓国人にとっては日本への対抗心から 常に全国民の関心の対象であり、愛国主義 のシンボルになってきた。

竹島問題をめぐっては大統領やマスコミ をはじめ、与野党、左右両派、保守・革新 を問わず、みんなが愛国者であることを世 論にアピールしようと、いつも対日強硬論 で“愛国”を競ってきた。

韓国は１９４５年、日本が敗戦で朝鮮半島か ら撤収した後、日本の意向を無視し半世紀以上 にわたり竹島を支配してきたが、「奪われた立 場」の日本が比較的静かだったのに比べ、 「奪った側」の韓国の方が逆に騒ぎ立て、「独 島はわれらのもの」と叫び続けてきた。

竹島について日本は「日韓併合（１９１０～ ４５年）とは無関係でそれ以前から日本の領 土」「日本が戦後、国際社会に復帰した際、米 国はじめ国際社会は韓国の領有権を認めなかっ た」などを根拠に反論、抗議してきた。

これに対し韓国では「日本の領有権は植民地 支配の産物で独島は韓国が取り戻したもの」 「日本がまたわが領土を奪いにくる」などとい う“扇動”が平気で行われ、周辺での軍事行動を含 め、ことあるごとに官民挙げての反日・愛国運 動が展開されてきた。

韓国側は今回も半世紀以上にわたる自分たち の“実力支配”の行為をよそに、日本側の教科書や 政府文書における領有権主張や島根県の「竹島 の日」制定など原則的な立場表明を「限界を超 えた日本の挑発」などと大げさに非難。政府・ マスコミ一体で反日感情をあおっている。

李大統領の“愛国パフォーマンス”はとりあえず 世論の拍手喝采を受けている。しかし看板の“経 済大統領”はどこへやら、日本にとっては最悪の 大統領として歴史に残りそうだ。

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/news/120810/kor12081021120014-n1.htm

President Lee, leaning on “patriotism,” makes relations more difficult to repair

The visit by President Lee of South Korea to Takeshima (Dokdo in Korean) displayed no diplomatic consideration towards Japan is an extremely provocative and unfriendly act. Since 1950, South Korea has done everything unilaterally, to show “actual control” over Takeshima. It has been said that “the only remaining strong tactics to use against Japan are a presidential visit or stationing marines” and President Lee went and did one of them.

President Lee, who is at the end of his term, decided to make an audacious move, desiring that his historical political evaluation be solely that he was the first president to visit Dokdo.

As a result, relations between Japan and South Korea will undoubtedly be at their worst ever. At the twilight of his presidency, Lee’s popularity has hit rock bottom. It is said that “it was from strong personal feelings” but repairing relations with Japan using hardball diplomacy before the end of his term next February will be hard.

According to Koreans, the territorial dispute with Japan over “Dokdo” is a reflection of the continuing national concern driven by antagonism towards Japan and has become a symbol of patriotism.

The Takeshima dispute has become rallying point where everyone, from the president and the media, to government and opposition parties, across the political spectrum, conservative and progressive, is appealing to public sentiment as being patriots, always fighting over “patriotism” through hard-line anti-Japan rhetoric.

After Japan lost the war and withdrew from the Korean peninsula, in 1945, South Korea ignored Japan’s wishes and has maintained dominion over Takeshima for half a century. Compared to Japan “the one dispossessed” and its comparatively quiet stance, South Korea as “the one possessing” noisily complains that “Dokdo is ours!”

Japan’s objection is based on the grounds that Takeshima “has been Japan’s territory well before the Japan-Korean Union (1910-1945) which is unrelated” and that “after Japan lost the war and returned to the international stage, the international community, starting with America, did not recognize South Korea’s territorial rights.”

As compared to this, South Korea, through statements like “Japan’s territorial claim is a product of its colonial dominion and it has been returned to South Korea” and “Japan is trying to seize our territory again,” and military activities in the surrounding areas, has been willfully agitating for anti-Japan patriotic activity in the public and private sectors at every turn. Despite its more than half a century of actions showing “actual control,” Korea has given exaggerated criticism of Japan’s position of territorial rights expressed in its textbooks and government papers and Shimane Prefecture’s declaration of “Takeshima Day”, saying “Japanese provocations have crossed the line.” As one, the government and media are stirring up anti-Japanese sentiment.

For the moment, President Lee’s patriotic performance is receiving public approval. Still, however this “economic president” may look, to Japan, he will remain the worst president in history.