南韓主張日本海亦叫東海

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following

「日本海」の正当性、政府ＨＰで紹介…韓国語も

　政府は２４日、日本海が国際的に確立した唯一の呼称であることについて、外務省ホームページ（ＨＰ）での紹介を開始した。

　日本語、英語、韓国語の３か国語で、２５日からは首相官邸のＨＰにも掲載される。

　ＨＰでは、韓国が近年になって日本海の単独呼称に異議を唱えはじめた事実を指摘、１９世紀初頭には日本海の呼称が圧倒的に国際社会で使われていたことも挙げ、「東海(トンヘ)」の併記を求める韓国の主張は「根拠がない」としている。

（2014年2月25日08時12分  読売新聞）

 (試譯文)

On the 24th (February) the government started introducing through the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s homepage (HP) about 'Sea of Japan' being the only name recognized internationally.

It would be published starting from the 25th in three languages: Japanese, English, and Korean, and also at the HP of the Prime Minister's official residence.

Regarding South Korea’s objection in recent years that ‘Sea of Japan’ was the only name, the homepage showed the facts that the name ‘Sea of Japan’ had been used overwhelmingly by the international community since the beginning of the 19th century, and held the opinion that there was "no basis" for South Korea to request for a parallel entry of "Tonhe".

(08:12 on February 25, 2014    Yomiuri Shimbun)

‘Sea of Japan’ is the international name for the body of water which is bordered by the west side of Japan from Kyushu to Hokkaido (about Lat.30^o N. - Lat.45^o N.); and the east side of South Korea, North Korea and Russia of the same Latitude. To suggest the name ‘Tonhe’ as a parallel name is interesting. Literally Tonhe means ‘East Sea’ and geographically it is completely at the west of Japan. I am wondering whether South Korea has consulted North Korea and Russia before suggesting a parallel name.