The seventh meeting of the UNCSGN adopted the chairman's agenda which included
negotiations with disputing countries over the naming of areas adjacent to or part of
sovereign territory. There is now a legal international foundation for Korea to regain the
name of 'East Sea' which Japan had usurped during its occupation of the peninsula, the
beginning of the beginning of national reclamation.
The 'East Sea' was described as such without exception up until 1870, even on Japanese
maps which named it 'Sea of Chosun'. It was only changed to 'Sea of Japan' following the
war with Russia and since then this was the only name used on maps from Japan and the
west.
According to international law the sea is bigger than the territorial waters of Korea, Japan
and Russia, so it is inappropriate to just put one country's name to it. The international
practice is to find an objective, neutral name when disputes arise. For instance, the former
'Persian Gulf' is now known simply as 'The Gulf' and the islands in the East China Sea are
known as 'Daowidao (China) = Sengaku (Japan)'.
The same principle should be applied to 'The Sea of Japan', however, Tokyo's attitude is to
avoid the subject. In 1992 the sixth UNCSGN recommended discussions between the two
countries, but Japan insisted that it was a political matter saying that their was
no
inconvenience in the name and to change it would just bring confusion.
Now that the UNCSGN urges new negotiations, Japan's claims are obviously at its limit. In
an English map a temporary solution has already been arrived at where the disputed waters
are referred to as 'East Sea / Sea of Japan'. It seems highly unlikely that Japan will change
its attitude and there is also the problem of having to attract the attention of
other
international organizations, map makers and geographers, so the government and academics
must make an all-out effort if we are to regain the 'East Sea'. (January 27, 1998)
