Int’l marine group defers decision on East Sea

An international organization decided yesterday to defer a decision on the name of the sea separating Korea and Japan for five more years amid fierce confrontation between the two countries. A total of 80 members of the International Hydrographic Organization, gathering at the organization’s headquarters in Monaco, continued its debate over the East Sea versus Sea of Japan since Monday, but they concluded yesterday that making any decision on it would be impossible at the latest conference. The quinquennial conference is to wrap up its five-day run today.

Seoul has claimed that the East Sea should be used together with the Sea of Japan, while Tokyo maintains the sole use of the Sea of Japan. In its Limits of Oceans and Seas printed beginning in 1929, the IHO has called it the Sea of Japan. Seoul says it is unfair because Korea was robbed of a chance to have its voice heard as it was under Japan’s colonial rule that lasted from 1910 to 1945. The IHO chart defining the oceanic borders and names were revised in 1937 and again in 1953.

By Moon Gwang-lip [joe@joongang.co.kr]