The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, also known as the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty, was made by representatives of the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire on 22 August 1910. In this treaty, Japan formally annexed Korea following the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 (by which Korea became a protectorate of Japan) and the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 (by which Korea was deprived of the administration of internal affairs). Japanese commentators predicted that Koreans would easily assimilate into the Japanese Empire. In 1965, the Treaty of Basic Relations between South Korea and Japan confirmed this treaty is "already null and void". History The treaty was proclaimed to the public (and became effective) on 29 August 1910, officially starting the period of Japanese rule in Korea. The treaty had eight articles, the first being: "His Majesty the Emperor of Korea makes the complete and permanent cession to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan of all rights of sovereignty over the whole of Korea". Gojong of the Korean Empire later called the treaty a neugyak (). The alternative term used in lieu of joyak () implies the Koreans were coerced into accepting the treaty by the Japanese. Gyeongsul Gukchi (, National humiliation of the year of Gyeongsul)" and Gukchi-il (, National humiliation day)" are alternative terms for the year and date the treaty was signed, respectively. The United Kingdom had already acquiesced to the annexation of Korea by Japan, via the British connection to Imperial Japan via the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902; and the United States had also sanctioned the annexation, as per the Taft-Katsura Agreement. Japan–Korea Annexation The Japanese Empire had already confirmed the policy of Annexation at the Cabinet Meeting on 6 July 1909. However, it was left only to minimize side effects and obtain an international justification. The Japanese imperial government was preparing a scenario for a "merger petition" to Shigemaru Sugiyama, an advisor of the Iljinhoe. Prior to this, Song Byeong-jun went to the Japanese Empire in February 1909 and held a bargaining for the country. Many times, Itō Hirobumi urged a "merger", but when work was delayed due to the Japanese imperial armed forces plan, he went directly to the Japanese Empire and negotiated a "merger" against the Japanese imperial Prime Minister Katsura Tarō and other members of the Japanese imperial Choya. If Song Byeong-jun's cabinet is established, not only is there a risk of retaliation, but also Ye