On July 12 of 1953, a Korean vessel fired several dozen shots upon a Japanese Coast Guard Vessel, the ‘Hekura,’ which was based out of Sakaiminato, near Takeshima. The Hekura travelled to Takeshima on the morning of July 12 and began preparations to make landfall on the island. During this time, Korean authorities – affiliated with the Ulleung(*) Island Police Department – arrived by ship and began to claim sovereignty over the island. Japanese Coast Guard officers refuted the Korean police’s claims, ordered them to vacate the premises, and returned to the Hekura.

After this exchange, the Hekura made a lap around Takeshima and began to return to Sakaiminato. Suddenly the Hekura came under gunfire, incurring several dozen shots from shooters 700 meters away located somewhere on the hillsides of Takeshima. No coast guard officers were injured, but the gunfire left two bullet holes within the hull of the Hekura. This survey by the Japanese Coast Guard discovered that the sign erected by the Shimane Prefecture had been removed and that approximately 40 Koreans had travelled to the island, seven of whom were speculated to be police officers. Additionally, there were three Korean fishing ships and one junk. One of the fishing ships was outfitted with two submachine guns and the police officers were armed with handguns. The Hekura returned to port in Sakaiminato at 5:30PM on the same day. (Ref.1)

(*) Explanation: Ulleung is the Korean name for Utsuryo Island.

Ref. 1: “8th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters Officially Classified Document No. 221 (July 13, 1953)” (Japan Coast Guard, 8th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters disclosed document)

Related documents
16th Session of the Diet (Parliament of Japan), House of Councillors, Plenary Sitting, Proceedings No. 22 (July 15, 1953) pp.9-10