Korean parliamentary session discussing report by the Committee on Extra-Peninsular Territorial Administration, with commentary by a Jaded Cynic. No names because I'm lazy.
"I wish to seek clarification on details to pertaining to the manner in which the Committee assembled this report. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has previously stated that the acquisition of these islands will aid in the growth and development of the national economy, and government spokespeople have emphasized this aspect. However, over the twenty-eight days the Committee opened to departmental consultation, roughly eleven days were devoted to testimony from the Ministry of National Defence, nine days to the Ministry of Security and Public Administration, and the remaining eight days an open floor to remaining ministries. If, as the government claims, these acquisitions are economic in motive, why was so little consultation held with the relevant economic ministries?"
"I would like to respond first by stating my confidence that the acquisition of these islands will provide vital economic and scientific opportunities to Korea in the near future. The reason the Committee devoted so much time to hearing testimony from the Ministry of National Defence stems from the uncertain political climate within East Asia, and reflects the immediate priority of developing a strategy that will properly account for Japanese activity, which has been utterly indecipherable for many months now. Once the islands are secure, greater attention will be paid to the economic agenda."
Translation: This was intended as a military venture first and foremost. Whatever economic benefit these islands hold is incidental and was never the motivating factor.
"When the Minister states that the military forces attached to these expeditions are in anticipation of potential Japanese hostility, is this not an admission that the acquisition of these islands is clearly expected to be interpreted by Tokyo as a provocative action?"
"There is, of course, always a possibility that any country's expansion into the frontier will be interpreted by neighbour states as a threat, as seen presently in the western United States and Europe. The government is confident, however, that given Japan's silence on previous annexations, the acquisition of these islands will not be regarded as a strategic concern. Nevertheless, should Tokyo take issue with the establishment of non-military maritime naval research stations, we believe that we can negotiate a mutually amicable redraft of national jurisdiction over islands of concern."
It's because Japan took Jeju. Most of these islands are too far out and too inconsequential to be of either economic or strategic value, so they're being claimed to serve as bargaining chips later down the line. An interesting gambit, assuming Japan doesn't opt to seize them by force.
"Will the Minister elaborate on his statement concerning maritime research stations? Is the motivation for the acquisition of these islands economic, or scientific in nature?"
"As stated previously, the economic potential of the islands is unrealized and the specific means of development are still being fleshed out. One of their potential uses is to host scientific outposts for climatological and maritime data-gathering, both for immediate insight into the state of their surrounding ecosystems and to assist in the construction of long-term observational studies. The islands may also provide useful stations for strategic early-warning systems and naval way-stations."
"Would the Minister of National Defence be willing to divulge as to whether his ministry has any pre-existing plans regarding the use of the proposed acquisitions?"
"I cannot provide any specific details at the moment, but the Ministry has made evaluations and drafted preliminary proposals for possible permanent installations in key sites for the purpose of intelligence-gathering and strategic planning."
They've had a plan from the start, and are now trying to neatly segue it into the 'economic' frame so as to deflect attention.
"Does the Ministry believe the erection of such outposts would require a permanent military garrison at these sites?"
"Again, I cannot comment on specifics at this time, and any such garrison would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but it is probable that if any such installation was considered a high strategic priority, it would receive a requisite garrison to repel potential saboteur action. But I cannot say decisively what sort of installations are being considered or what size of force would be required."
Strange. These islands are too small for worthwhile bases yet the government is willing to knock shoulders with Japan to acquire them. Whatever purpose they're to serve is considered more critical than belligerence with neighbour states. So what is it?
"I would like to ask the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries as to why the government wishes to engage in such a costly project to erect infrastructure for scientific analysis when the scientific objectives could be accomplished with much less expenditure and far less redundancy simply by co-ordinating with the science ministries of Arctica and Japan."
"We have currently received no indication that either country would be interested in a joint initiative, and so as a matter of precaution have based our strategy on the probability that all such data would have to be acquired by Korea alone. There are also elements of the framework that the government does not believe should be disclosed to foreign powers at this time, mainly those specific to Korean interests with little practical application to either Japan or Arctica."
Hwa-yeom. Of course
it's Hwa-yeom. The government is casting a giant sensor perimeter to try and map out his movements. It wants those remote islands so it has early warning as to his extra-peninsular activities. The outpost story is probably a cover for fortified bunkers, an insurance policy in case he goes after the government in force. It won't involve other governments in case it encourages Hwa-yeom to start striking outside the country.
"I would like to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs if any attempt to contact either Artica or Japan was made on the Korean end."
"...No, none."
Of course, by not
involving its neighbours, Korea is only drawing suspicion over its true motives, and a misreading could provoke exactly the sort of interstate war that would play into Hwa-yeom's hands. It's all a frighteningly high-stakes game. . .
the Matador crime syndicate
He
likes me!! He really
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O
