Seo Kyung Deok's Channel

In recent years, a Korean organization, called VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea) has been sending a large number of e-mails to notable world web sites and asking organizations to switch from the name Sea of Japan to East Sea. You might have received their messages, but I warn you not to readily accept their invalid claim.

These are pamphlets produced by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Please see these pdf files.

Sea of Japan - The One and Only Name Familiar to the International Community
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/pamph0903.pdf

A Historical overview of the name "Sea of Japan"
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/pamph0606.pdf

If you want more information, please go to the website of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan Coast Guard given below. There are detailed information and detailed pamphlets about the problem.

I recommend that you retain the sole use of the name Sea of Japan in all the documents and atlases. I trust you will use sound judgment.


For your reference,

（１）It is verified by a survey of historical maps from around the world conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan that the name Sea of Japan is the only internationally established name for the sea area concerned.

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs "The Issue of the Name of the Sea of Japan"
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/index.html#5

Historical map research in the British Library

　Sea of Japan 32
　East Sea 0

Historical map reasearch in the University of Cambridge

　Sea of Japan 18
　East Sea 0

Historical map research in the Bibliotheque Nationale de France

　Sea of Japan 254
　East Sea 0

Historical map reaserch in the U.S. Library of Congress

　Sea of Japan 1110
　East Sea 2

Historical map research in the Russian Federation

　Sea of Japan 29
　East Sea 1

Historical map research in the Berlin State Library

　Sea of Japan 579
　East Sea 5

Historical map research in the collection of antiquarian map dealer Nikolaus Struck

　Sea of Japan 35
　East Sea 0


（２）The United Nations as well as the Government of the United States officially uses the name Sea of Japan.

United Nations officially uses the sole description of the Sea of Japan.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/un0406.html

International Hydrographic Organization officially uses the sole description of the Sea of Japan
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/iho.html

U.S. Board on Geographic Names officially uses the sole description of the Sea of Japan.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/POLICY/maritime/japan/us.html

U.S. Department of State officially uses the sole description of the Sea of Japan.
http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ci/ks/

CIA officially uses the sole description of the Sea of Japan.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html

New York Times officially uses the sole description of the Sea of Japan.
http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch?query=%22Sea+of+Japan%22&more=date_all

CNN officially uses the sole description of the Sea of Japan
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/04/nkorea.missiles/index.html?iref=newssearch


（３）Other relevant web sites

1.Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

　*The Issue of the Name of the Sea of Japan
　http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/index.html

2.Pamphlets produced by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

　(1) A Historical overview of the name "Sea of Japan" [PDF]
　http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/pamph0606.pdf

　(2) History of the name "Sea of Japan" [PDF]
　http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/history.pdf

　(3) Sea of Japan [PDF]
　http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/pamph0208.pdf

　(4) Sea of Japan - The One and Only Name Familiar to the International Community [English (PDF)]
　http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/maritime/japan/pamph0903.pdf

3.Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department of Japan Coast Guard

　*Naming of "Japan Sea"
　http://www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/GIJUTSUKOKUSAI/nihonkai/index_eng.htm

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