A few days ago I have visited your website – https://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/china-says-navy-drills-sea-japan-are-routine-n634156. And I was much surprised and thought deeply. As I found that your website labeled Korea's 'East Sea' as 'Japan Sea' alone, I would like to politely encourage you to change this point from a fairer historical point of view.

Japan has continuously tried to claim the ‘East Sea’ as 'Sea of Japan' since early 20th century – the time that Japan try to expand its territory by establishing colonies, so these errors may happen on many websites including yours. However the use of ‘East Sea’ is more than ‘Sea of Japan’ in many western old maps but I think both names should be used in maps and websites.   

Until the 19th century, various names such as the Joseon Sea or the East Sea, which refer to the sea between Korea and Japan, had been used. And the name Donghae is engraved on the inscription of Goguryeo's "King Gwanggaeto," which has been used in Korea for 2000 years. In Japan, Sea of Japan was not widely used, but as Japan emerged as an Asian powerhouse in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the sea between Korea and Japan became widely known as Sea of Japan. Sea of Japan' was recorded in S-23, the second edition of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) publication, followed by various online maps and marine and international documents around the world. However, when the third edition of S-23 was published in 1953, Korea was Japanese colonial era and was in the Korean War. Naturally, it was not possible to raise an objection to this name. The IHO's resolution essentially states that two or more countries that share one geographical feature but each use different names should use together them if they disagree with one common name. These general rules for international mapping are also specified in the resolution of the UN Nomination Standardization Council adopted in 1977. Thus the name of the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japanese archipelago should be used together as ‘East Sea’ and ‘Sea of Japan’ from the aspects of the geographical, historical and international law.

So I think we should use both 'East Sea' and 'Sea of Japan' for this sea and I would like to politely recommend you this fact. There is always debate all over the world over territory, sovereignty and its name. In order to objectively judge, I think we should use multiple names together and use one name when the situation is adjusted.

Therefore, I would like to advise you to think deeply about the above recommendations in order to view and judge history fairly and to enhance the objectivity of your web site.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Yudam Kim.