Will the Korea-Japan 'Donghae' Naming Dispute Disappear? IHO Agrees to Use Unique Codes Instead of Names

Japan's Argument for 'Sea of Japan' Label in East Sea Likely to Weaken... Former 'Naming Guide' Now Only a Publication

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which serves as the standard for naming seas worldwide, will introduce a numbering (code) system instead of names in its standard nautical chart collection. According to the new notation system, Japan's logic of exclusively labeling the East Sea as the Sea of Japan is expected to weaken.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 17th, the IHO agreed to introduce 'S-130,' a revised edition of the nautical chart collection 'Limits of Oceans and Seas' (S-23), following discussions at the general assembly related to the 'Informal Consultations on the Future of S-23' held via video conference on the 16th. 'S-130' centers on assigning identification numbers to seas instead of names. The IHO general assembly will continue until the 18th.

Japan has long labeled the East Sea as the 'Sea of Japan' based on the first edition of S-23 published in 1929 and has insisted on the exclusive use of 'Sea of Japan.' The Korean government has advocated for dual notation of the East Sea and Sea of Japan since 1997, but this position was not reflected.

Subsequently, starting with the IHO general assembly held in April 2017, consultations began with North Korea and Japan. However, as the parties failed to reach an agreement by last year, the IHO Secretary-General proposed a method of labeling seas with 'unique codes' instead of names.

After discussions at this general assembly, the IHO plans to circulate the final results in writing and announce them on December 1. The existing 'S-23' is expected to be published only as a printed publication.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted Japanese media reports suggesting that the name 'Sea of Japan' will be maintained, calling such reports distorted and contrary to the facts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.