Japan and South Korea failed to make any progress in their two-day meeting aimed at determining the boundary of their exclusive economic zones in the Sea of Japan. An early breakthrough in the dispute is unlikely, although both countries agreed to hold another round of talks in September. Blocking progress is a cluster of islets to which both countries claim territorial rights.
Since the issue is unlikely to be solved easily, the two countries should seek a compromise that would set aside the territorial dispute for now and allow joint peaceful development of resources in the area.
The most recent talks were the first on the EEZ issue in six years, following similar talks held from 1996 to 2000. The two countries agreed to resume talks after a high-seas showdown in April was averted through diplomatic negotiations. The crisis had stemmed from Japan's plan to survey the ocean bed near the disputed islets, known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea. The survey plan represented an attempt to counter South Korea's move to register underwater topographical features with Korean names at a conference of the International Hydrographic Organization.